This was a big week for the Center for a Vital Community. On Tuesday, we graduated our seventh class of community leaders through the CiViC Leadership Project, the CVC’s flagship program. We also celebrated one of our trainers who has been with this program since its inception eighteen years ago. Incredibly, over 170 women and men have been through this program, learning about rural community leadership and how to make real and lasting changes here.

The CiViC Project trains a class of 24, twelve women and twelve men, a mix of emerging and existing leaders from all community sectors. Small business owners, pastors, police officers, nonprofit directors, engineers, bankers, and county commissioners are examples of diverse representation. Since the program is funded through the generosity of local foundations and past graduates, anyone can apply, regardless of financial ability.  The magic happens because the group of 24 spends five days at Eatons’ Ranch (or Spear-O Wigwam for one year), leaving behind their jobs and families, and they end the week with 23 new best friends, fully equipped to identify community issues and gather people to make things happen.

As Julie and I sifted through the photos and lists of past graduates, we took a moment to marvel at all Sheridan County has achieved through the CiViC experience.  The first class nudged Bob Rolston to run for County Commissioner and supported Dave Kinskey in his first run for the State Senate. The second class conceived of a youth-focused CiViC Project experience that became the Youth CiViC Leadership Camp in 2009 and renamed CampFIRE, still going strong. When Laura Sands (Class 1) realized there were schoolkids who didn’t have food to eat over the weekend, she gathered other CiViC grads and friends to tackle this issue, and The Food Group was created.  Wanting an alternative to traditional nursing home models, CiViC grads, including Carmen Rideout, Barbara Walter, and Liz Howell, organized other passionate folks to raise the money and make GreenHouse Living for Sheridan a reality.

These are just some of the more public accomplishments that the CiViC Project connections and curriculum can claim. What’s more subtle but wildly impactful are the shared experiences and learning. It means that when a few CiViC grads come to the table around any project, from a neighborhood’s revitalization to a strategic plan for the County to raising money for a cause, trust is already built, making progress faster and more harmonious. I firmly believe (and not because I’m the CVC Director) that the CiViC Project is one of the unique properties of our community. Seldom does someone come up with a really great idea that would make a difference for our residents and hit a wall. We are a community of true believers who are willing and excited to get together and see what we can do together. The CiViC Project experience gives us the road map to make it happen.