Northeast Michigan Nonprofit Leaders Chosen for Second Cohort of Leadership Initiative

5/8/2019

Alpena, Mich. - Five northeast Michigan nonprofit leaders have been selected by the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan (CFNEM) to attend an eight month Leadership Learning Lab. They will join four additional leaders to round out their cohort.

The Leadership Learning Lab seeks to connect and empower nonprofit leaders and give them the skills to strengthen the organizations and communities they serve. 2019 marks the second year of a partnership between CFNEM, the Frey Foundation, Rotary Charities of Traverse City, and 11 Michigan community foundations. The program aligns with CFNEM’s strategic efforts to support capacity building among local nonprofits.

2019 cohort members chosen by CFNEM are Bradley Somers (Boys and Girls Club of Alpena), Jeffrey Mindock (Thunder Bay Theatre), Denise Bearre (Alcona County Library), Arleen Wood (Iosco-Arenac District Library), and Kimberly Scott (River House, Inc.). Also included in the cohort are Annette Wells (Community Mediation Services), Taylar Akin (Gaylord Area Chamber of Commerce), Christine Dunaj (MidMichigan Community Health Services), and Katie Dunaj (Association to Rescue Kritters).

Topics covered throughout the cohort include adaptive leadership, board development, mission-driven storytelling, and more. Participants also develop lasting, supportive relationships with other members of their cohort. In fact, participants from the first year have elected to continue their cohort’s meetings for an additional year. The majority of funding is provided through a grant from the Frey Foundation, with additional support from the partnering community foundations. For northeast Michigan, that includes CFNEM, Otsego Community Foundation and Roscommon County Community Foundation. Through this support, nonprofits are required to put forth just $200 of the $1,500 cost for participation in the program. The remaining cost is covered by the partnering foundations.

The Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan is a charitable organization committed to providing people who care about the future of our area with unique and effective ways of supporting their community now, and for generations to come. Led by a volunteer board of local citizens, the foundation oversees a group of permanently endowed funds from a wide range of donors. Gifts of all sizes from individuals, families, businesses and agencies are invested in a balanced, well-managed portfolio to build endowments, enabling support for students and local community nonprofits now and forever.

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