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ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
Leadership Lexington has been operating as the premiere leadership development program for professionals in the greater Lexington area for more than 40 years. With a competitive application and selection process, the program allows just fifty class members annually. Leadership Lexington consists of ten, informative day-sessions which are organized and hosted by local leaders. These day sessions help to broaden perspectives and provide an increased understanding of community dynamics, signature industries, and public issues. Each class completes up to four community-based projects during the duration of the program. Projects are pitched and selected by the program participants at an immersive opening retreat. |
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MISSION: The program gives participants the opportunity to better understand our city and to prepare for the challenges it faces by meeting with and learning from today’s leaders. Leadership Lexington is an educational opportunity that broadens perspectives and allows participants to gain increased understanding of community dynamics and public issues.
Applications for the 2025-2026 Leadership Lexington Class are open now!
For more information about the Leadership Lexington program check out the FAQs below or contact Tyra Harbut, Director of Leadership Development, at (859) 226-1610.
Who is eligible to apply?
Individuals who work in the Greater Lexington area are eligible to apply, and the program is open to both Commerce Lexington members, as well as non-members for an additional cost.
What is the time commitment to participate?
Leadership Lexington is an eleven-month program that starts with an overnight Orientation Retreat in August. The program then consists of one full-day session, once a month from September until June. The overnight Orientation Retreat is mandatory.
Class participants are required to attend 80% of the day sessions in order to ‘graduate’ from the program.
Each year the class will complete up to four community projects. Project work is typically completed outside of the day sessions, which makes the Leadership Lexington experience a significant time commitment.
Class participants are required to attend 80% of the day sessions in order to ‘graduate’ from the program.
Each year the class will complete up to four community projects. Project work is typically completed outside of the day sessions, which makes the Leadership Lexington experience a significant time commitment.
What is the timeline for applications?
What goes into the selection process?
Once the application window closes, a Steering Committee comprised of Leadership Lexington Alumni score the applications. The program is incredibly competitive. Multiple steering committee members score each application based on applicant background, leadership experience, reason for participation, personal insights, and letters of support. Once all applications are scored, the committee compiles the applications in order of highest to lowest score and discuss any discrepancies in scoring. The class is selected by a combination of the scores given and the discussion that follows.
The makeup of each year’s class is intended to reflect the cultural diversity of our city.
The makeup of each year’s class is intended to reflect the cultural diversity of our city.
How much does it cost?
Commerce Lexington Member Rate: $2,500
Non-member Rate: $2,500 plus an additional fee.
Contact us for more information.
Non-member Rate: $2,500 plus an additional fee.
Contact us for more information.
MEMBER TESTIMONIAL: |
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Hear more about the impact Leadership Lexington from past participants.
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MEMBER TESTIMONIAL: |
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Leadership Lexington Application Tutorial
Learn from Selection Committee members about what they are looking for when they score Leadership Lexington applications. This video will provide guidance for you on each section of the application as well as answering general questions we often receive from applicants.
Learn from Selection Committee members about what they are looking for when they score Leadership Lexington applications. This video will provide guidance for you on each section of the application as well as answering general questions we often receive from applicants.
2024-25 PROGRAM SPONSORS:
PRESENTED BY:
PLATINUM SPONSORS:
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ORIENTATION SPONSOR:
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HISTORY SPONSOR:
NAME BADGE SPONSOR:
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GOLD SPONSORS:
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Attention Leadership Lexington Alums: Help Us Stay Connected to You
The Leadership Lexington Alumni Association is ramping up! In order to make this association a success, we need all alums to submit updated contact information. If you are a graduate of Leadership Lexington, please send your updated information via e-mail to Dawn Flickinger.
Find out more at www.leadershiplexingtonalumni.com.
The Leadership Lexington Alumni Association is ramping up! In order to make this association a success, we need all alums to submit updated contact information. If you are a graduate of Leadership Lexington, please send your updated information via e-mail to Dawn Flickinger.
Find out more at www.leadershiplexingtonalumni.com.
PHOTO BY MAHAN MULTIMEDIA
LATEST SESSION: Leadership Lexington People, Culture, and Community Day Recap
Recap by Jaydan Norris, Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness
Just as our cohort is shaped by a blend of lifestyles and experiences, Leadership Lexington's People, Culture, and Community Day came alive with dynamic perspectives, senses of pride, and unique journeys all brought together beautifully through everyone’s participation. The day began with a delicious breakfast of empanadas, a fitting choice to our theme, given the dish’s popularity across many Latin American countries. As we enjoyed our meal, we were warmly welcomed by the Paul Laurence Dunbar High School’s Principal and Assistant Principal, who proudly spoke about the school’s strong family atmosphere. Head Principal Loscheider shared that English, Spanish, and Swahili are the top three languages spoken in the school, and that the hallways are filled with students of all nationalities that are all united under the school’s motto, “All in 1600,” referencing the school's address.
Recognizing the school's vibrant African and Swahili-speaking community, Dunbar has partnered with the Marafiki Center, an organization whose mission is to create opportunities for cross-cultural connection, to support the schools AfroLex Club, a student organization dedicated to sustaining culture, traditions, and value in the academic setting. Marafiki Center Executive Director, Elisha Mutayongwa, shared that he and his family are originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and informed us that refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo were once the largest group to be resettled into the U.S., as well as Congolese remain one of the largest groups in Lexington, KY. Elisha Mutayongwa founded the Marafiki Center, in 2019, exemplifying his dedication to preserving and sharing his African heritage.
“In the act of teaching I should be learning”, said Dr. Roger Cleveland, President of Millennium Learning Concepts. Dr. Cleveland enriched our cohort of leaders by offering valuable insights into the qualities of effective leadership, with a particular emphasis on leading individuals who are different from you. He highlighted the importance of cultivating an environment where everyone feels valued and understood. Dr. Cleveland explained that to be culturally competent, one must possess three core elements: awareness, knowledge, and skill. Furthermore, he emphasized the significance of cultural humility, the practice of self-reflection about one’s own biases and assumptions, paired with a sincere willingness to learn from others. Ultimately, I believe the takeaway is that great leadership isn't just about strategy or vision, it's about understanding and shaping culture to inspire, align, and empower others.
Following, Jessica N. Wimsatt, Associate of Littler Mendelson, P.S.C, provided insight on the extensively-reported and widespread media covered legal challenges of certain diversity efforts that are occurring at the federal level. Wimsatt offered a legal perspective on today’s polarized climate. Community Volunteer and LL Distinguished Leader, Phil Jun, then introduced Tiffany Brown, Chief Opportunity and Strategy Officer of LFUCG, and Abdul Muhammad, Commission Chair & Market President of WesBanco, to lead the racial justice and equity panel discussion. Brown and Muhammad emphasized the importance of leaders having a strong sense of equity and financial empowerment. Muhammad pointed out that financial empowerment begins at home, stressing how crucial it is for families to feel comfortable when discussing finances. Brown and Muhammad further acknowledged that access to certain resources may not be equally available to all individuals, and that as a community, we have a collective responsibility to provide the essential tools and support needed to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to begin on an equal playing field, defining equity.
Bluegrass Care Navigators defined health equity and engagement as “ensuring that every person—regardless of their background, zip code, or life circumstances—has fair and just access to the compassionate, high-quality care they deserve”. We were able to gain an understanding of the services offered, that ensure quality and convenient healthcare for all. Daryl Love, Health Equity and Engagement Officer, and LL very own, Kathryn Perry, Executive Director, of BCN shared a touching message, that no one is turned away from bluegrass hospice care.
Our thought-provoking day continued when we met Melissa Coulston, Partnership Coordinator of the Kentucky Refugee Ministries-Lexington. Coulston led our class through a How Welcome Works: Kentucky Refugee Simulation. Every individual was given a folder containing a new identity, date of birth, country of origin, native language, immigration status, and randomly some form of documentation such as a passport, ID, visa, or sometimes nothing. We also received a random amount of starting money or none, and a checklist of tasks we had to complete: pay rent, buy groceries, enroll ourselves or our children in school, among others. Our ability to complete the checklist depended on the resources we had and the roll of a die. Whichever number came up, we’d have to check the leader’s sheet to find out our outcome. Responses varied from “You rolled a 2—you made it to the grocery store but the language barrier was too high, so you couldn’t buy groceries,” or “You rolled a 6—while trying to enroll your child in school, you were asked for identification but you didn’t have any, so you were sent away.” Some outcomes were even more severe, like detention or deportation. It powerfully demonstrated the uncertainty and emotional toll that refugees experience as they try to navigate life in a new country. Each unlucky roll forced us to weigh difficult decisions and prioritize which needs mattered most just to stay in the “game.” It didn’t take long for the heartbreaking reality to hit: for many, this isn’t a game. It’s real life.
The DiverCity Festival seeks to educate, embrace, and celebrate the multitude of cultures that enrich the City of Lexington. “The festival features dozens of vendors and performances that showcase the multitude of cultures that make up the City of Lexington” communicated the founders of the celebration, Brett Bibb, Noel Osborne, Christian Adair, Brad Ingram, and Michael Kunjoo.The DiverCity Festival is a vision brought to life by the passionate and determined LL Class of 2018-2019, turning an inspiring idea into a vibrant reality. The DiverCity Festival founders inspired many of the current class, proving to them every project vision has the ability to come to life.
Our day came to an end with a multicultural awareness “surprise speaker” who turned out to be our very own LL Classmate, Leonel Ocasio. Leo burst into scene, grabbing the class's attention when he stood up and immediately starting teaching the class in Spanish. Several members were confused and even admitted they didn’t understand what was happening. Leo started taking attendance, mispronouncing names without hesitation or correction. After several minutes of confusion, Leo stepped in to reveal a powerful message: this moment mirrored how immigrant students often feel. He thoughtfully illustrated how small, intentional actions like taking a moment to ask the correct pronunciation of a student's name or clearly explaining what’s happening in class, can make a world of difference in helping those students feel seen and truly welcome. Leo also led the class through a simulation, instructing us to write down the most important things in our lives, without us realizing we were slowly losing everything one by one… again, depicting how migrants and refugees may feel as they enter a new country. These exercises were incredibly insightful and offered valuable guidance on how to shape leadership that is empathetic, engaging, and ensures everyone understood. Leo concluded his presentation and the day, with an impactful message, “you can’t control your staff’s race, background, or language, but you can control how you lead”.
In the end, I like to believe the day reflected the vibrant spirit of our cohort, each moment and presentation adding depth to our personal identities, strengthening our sense of community, honoring the distinct perspectives we each bring, and crafting our leadership to further allow us to celebrate of who we are.
Recap by Jaydan Norris, Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness
Just as our cohort is shaped by a blend of lifestyles and experiences, Leadership Lexington's People, Culture, and Community Day came alive with dynamic perspectives, senses of pride, and unique journeys all brought together beautifully through everyone’s participation. The day began with a delicious breakfast of empanadas, a fitting choice to our theme, given the dish’s popularity across many Latin American countries. As we enjoyed our meal, we were warmly welcomed by the Paul Laurence Dunbar High School’s Principal and Assistant Principal, who proudly spoke about the school’s strong family atmosphere. Head Principal Loscheider shared that English, Spanish, and Swahili are the top three languages spoken in the school, and that the hallways are filled with students of all nationalities that are all united under the school’s motto, “All in 1600,” referencing the school's address.
Recognizing the school's vibrant African and Swahili-speaking community, Dunbar has partnered with the Marafiki Center, an organization whose mission is to create opportunities for cross-cultural connection, to support the schools AfroLex Club, a student organization dedicated to sustaining culture, traditions, and value in the academic setting. Marafiki Center Executive Director, Elisha Mutayongwa, shared that he and his family are originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and informed us that refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo were once the largest group to be resettled into the U.S., as well as Congolese remain one of the largest groups in Lexington, KY. Elisha Mutayongwa founded the Marafiki Center, in 2019, exemplifying his dedication to preserving and sharing his African heritage.
“In the act of teaching I should be learning”, said Dr. Roger Cleveland, President of Millennium Learning Concepts. Dr. Cleveland enriched our cohort of leaders by offering valuable insights into the qualities of effective leadership, with a particular emphasis on leading individuals who are different from you. He highlighted the importance of cultivating an environment where everyone feels valued and understood. Dr. Cleveland explained that to be culturally competent, one must possess three core elements: awareness, knowledge, and skill. Furthermore, he emphasized the significance of cultural humility, the practice of self-reflection about one’s own biases and assumptions, paired with a sincere willingness to learn from others. Ultimately, I believe the takeaway is that great leadership isn't just about strategy or vision, it's about understanding and shaping culture to inspire, align, and empower others.
Following, Jessica N. Wimsatt, Associate of Littler Mendelson, P.S.C, provided insight on the extensively-reported and widespread media covered legal challenges of certain diversity efforts that are occurring at the federal level. Wimsatt offered a legal perspective on today’s polarized climate. Community Volunteer and LL Distinguished Leader, Phil Jun, then introduced Tiffany Brown, Chief Opportunity and Strategy Officer of LFUCG, and Abdul Muhammad, Commission Chair & Market President of WesBanco, to lead the racial justice and equity panel discussion. Brown and Muhammad emphasized the importance of leaders having a strong sense of equity and financial empowerment. Muhammad pointed out that financial empowerment begins at home, stressing how crucial it is for families to feel comfortable when discussing finances. Brown and Muhammad further acknowledged that access to certain resources may not be equally available to all individuals, and that as a community, we have a collective responsibility to provide the essential tools and support needed to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to begin on an equal playing field, defining equity.
Bluegrass Care Navigators defined health equity and engagement as “ensuring that every person—regardless of their background, zip code, or life circumstances—has fair and just access to the compassionate, high-quality care they deserve”. We were able to gain an understanding of the services offered, that ensure quality and convenient healthcare for all. Daryl Love, Health Equity and Engagement Officer, and LL very own, Kathryn Perry, Executive Director, of BCN shared a touching message, that no one is turned away from bluegrass hospice care.
Our thought-provoking day continued when we met Melissa Coulston, Partnership Coordinator of the Kentucky Refugee Ministries-Lexington. Coulston led our class through a How Welcome Works: Kentucky Refugee Simulation. Every individual was given a folder containing a new identity, date of birth, country of origin, native language, immigration status, and randomly some form of documentation such as a passport, ID, visa, or sometimes nothing. We also received a random amount of starting money or none, and a checklist of tasks we had to complete: pay rent, buy groceries, enroll ourselves or our children in school, among others. Our ability to complete the checklist depended on the resources we had and the roll of a die. Whichever number came up, we’d have to check the leader’s sheet to find out our outcome. Responses varied from “You rolled a 2—you made it to the grocery store but the language barrier was too high, so you couldn’t buy groceries,” or “You rolled a 6—while trying to enroll your child in school, you were asked for identification but you didn’t have any, so you were sent away.” Some outcomes were even more severe, like detention or deportation. It powerfully demonstrated the uncertainty and emotional toll that refugees experience as they try to navigate life in a new country. Each unlucky roll forced us to weigh difficult decisions and prioritize which needs mattered most just to stay in the “game.” It didn’t take long for the heartbreaking reality to hit: for many, this isn’t a game. It’s real life.
The DiverCity Festival seeks to educate, embrace, and celebrate the multitude of cultures that enrich the City of Lexington. “The festival features dozens of vendors and performances that showcase the multitude of cultures that make up the City of Lexington” communicated the founders of the celebration, Brett Bibb, Noel Osborne, Christian Adair, Brad Ingram, and Michael Kunjoo.The DiverCity Festival is a vision brought to life by the passionate and determined LL Class of 2018-2019, turning an inspiring idea into a vibrant reality. The DiverCity Festival founders inspired many of the current class, proving to them every project vision has the ability to come to life.
Our day came to an end with a multicultural awareness “surprise speaker” who turned out to be our very own LL Classmate, Leonel Ocasio. Leo burst into scene, grabbing the class's attention when he stood up and immediately starting teaching the class in Spanish. Several members were confused and even admitted they didn’t understand what was happening. Leo started taking attendance, mispronouncing names without hesitation or correction. After several minutes of confusion, Leo stepped in to reveal a powerful message: this moment mirrored how immigrant students often feel. He thoughtfully illustrated how small, intentional actions like taking a moment to ask the correct pronunciation of a student's name or clearly explaining what’s happening in class, can make a world of difference in helping those students feel seen and truly welcome. Leo also led the class through a simulation, instructing us to write down the most important things in our lives, without us realizing we were slowly losing everything one by one… again, depicting how migrants and refugees may feel as they enter a new country. These exercises were incredibly insightful and offered valuable guidance on how to shape leadership that is empathetic, engaging, and ensures everyone understood. Leo concluded his presentation and the day, with an impactful message, “you can’t control your staff’s race, background, or language, but you can control how you lead”.
In the end, I like to believe the day reflected the vibrant spirit of our cohort, each moment and presentation adding depth to our personal identities, strengthening our sense of community, honoring the distinct perspectives we each bring, and crafting our leadership to further allow us to celebrate of who we are.
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Contact us:
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