Leadership Lexington
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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 2024-2025 Leadership Lexington Class are closed.
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.
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?
Applicants must be employed by firms or organizations that are active members of Commerce Lexington. Non-employed community volunteers may also apply.
What is the time commitment to participate?
Leadership Lexington is an eleven-month program that starts with an overnight Orientation Retreat in August (Tentatively scheduled for August 1-2, 2024 at Boone Tavern in Berea. The program then consists of one full-day session lasting eight hours, once a month from September until June. The 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?
Applications for the 2024-2025 leadership class opened on April 15 and closed on May 15. Applicants will be notified by the end of June on acceptance.
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, receiving more than 100 applications annually. 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 ethnic and cultural diversity of our city.
Typically, only one individual from each organization will be accepted per year.
The makeup of each year’s class is intended to reflect the ethnic and cultural diversity of our city.
Typically, only one individual from each organization will be accepted per year.
How much does it cost?
Program cost is $2,000.
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:
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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 send in any updated contact information. If you are a graduate of Leadership Lexington, please send your updated information via e-mail to Dawn Pope. 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 send in any updated contact information. If you are a graduate of Leadership Lexington, please send your updated information via e-mail to Dawn Pope. Find out more at www.leadershiplexingtonalumni.com.
LATEST SESSION: Leadership Lexington Explores Dynamics of Our Local History
Recap by Jyre Richardson, From Here to There Moving
For our first Leadership Lexington session, we had the privilege of touring Lexington and hearing from and speaking to multiple historians. We began our day at the Downtown Lexington Public Library, hearing from Mr. Dudley Webb of The Webb Companies. He regaled us with stories of the history of Lexington, or the “world's largest national park,” as he called it, thanks to a variety of organizations restricting our physical growth. Mr. Webb commented on the past and present dynamic of Lexingtonians wanting progress, while simultaneously opposing too much change.
Next, we spoke with Mr. Shea Brown and Dr. Vanessa Holden with the Digital Access Program (DAP). We then had the pleasure of hearing from Dr. Mandy Higgins, Executive Director of the Lexington History Museum. She described how history is usually told as either a list of dates or through nostalgic, rose-tinted glasses. She claimed that neither approach is helpful, as history is best presented as an argument. She stated that Lexington has both an uplifting history, as well as an extremely violent and degrading history. History moves, flows and changes, including the names, people, places, and definitions. What is correct at one time, eventually changes. Change is the only constant.
Finally, we heard from Yvonne Giles, who gave us a tour of Lexington’s East End. She taught us of the rich, and largely unknown, African American jockey tradition in Lexington. We saw an incredible statue by local artist Kiptoo Taurus of Will Harbut, Man O War’s African American groom for 16 years. We then viewed the Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden, the first (and only) park in the United States to honor the earliest African American professional athletes – the Thoroughbred jockey. We finished at Charles Young Park and learned the history of Charles Young – a soldier, diplomat and civil rights leader.
In closing, I’m thankful we learned that the only way to learn from history is to study it. We must learn the good and the bad to move forward.
For our first Leadership Lexington session, we had the privilege of touring Lexington and hearing from and speaking to multiple historians. We began our day at the Downtown Lexington Public Library, hearing from Mr. Dudley Webb of The Webb Companies. He regaled us with stories of the history of Lexington, or the “world's largest national park,” as he called it, thanks to a variety of organizations restricting our physical growth. Mr. Webb commented on the past and present dynamic of Lexingtonians wanting progress, while simultaneously opposing too much change.
Next, we spoke with Mr. Shea Brown and Dr. Vanessa Holden with the Digital Access Program (DAP). We then had the pleasure of hearing from Dr. Mandy Higgins, Executive Director of the Lexington History Museum. She described how history is usually told as either a list of dates or through nostalgic, rose-tinted glasses. She claimed that neither approach is helpful, as history is best presented as an argument. She stated that Lexington has both an uplifting history, as well as an extremely violent and degrading history. History moves, flows and changes, including the names, people, places, and definitions. What is correct at one time, eventually changes. Change is the only constant.
Finally, we heard from Yvonne Giles, who gave us a tour of Lexington’s East End. She taught us of the rich, and largely unknown, African American jockey tradition in Lexington. We saw an incredible statue by local artist Kiptoo Taurus of Will Harbut, Man O War’s African American groom for 16 years. We then viewed the Isaac Murphy Memorial Art Garden, the first (and only) park in the United States to honor the earliest African American professional athletes – the Thoroughbred jockey. We finished at Charles Young Park and learned the history of Charles Young – a soldier, diplomat and civil rights leader.
In closing, I’m thankful we learned that the only way to learn from history is to study it. We must learn the good and the bad to move forward.