1 ORGS · 5 ACTIVITIES ← all strategies ·
theory of action →

Alumni-Driven Network Building

By engaging alumni and aligning curriculum with regional economic needs, sustain leadership impact, because ongoing relationships and relevant skill-building strengthen rural leadership networks over time. This strategy leverages long-term alumni involvement through recurring regional events and adaptive curricula that reflect local economic realities, ensuring that leadership development remains contextually grounded and mutually reinforcing. Unlike one-time training models, it emphasizes continuity, collective identity, and place-based relevance—particularly within Indigenous and rural communities—fostering civic engagement that endures beyond program completion.

1
orgs running it
5
activities of those orgs
2
clusters touched
who runs it

organizations running this strategy · 1

what it looks like in practice

activities of orgs running this strategy

A sample of programmatic activities from the orgs above. These are what the strategy looks like on the ground.

  • Alumni Engagement and Regional Connections ARIZONA CENTER FOR RURAL LEADERSHIP
    capacity building
    Engages over 700 Project CENTRL alumni through the CENTRL Alumni Committee, which organizes at least two Regional Connections events annually across Arizona to sustain leadership networks and community impact.
  • Alumni Leadership Impact ARIZONA CENTER FOR RURAL LEADERSHIP
    capacity building
    Supports alumni who volunteer on nonprofit boards, launch new organizations, serve as subject matter experts, and run for elected office, with four current members serving in the Arizona State Legislature.
  • Class Selection and Cohort Management ARIZONA CENTER FOR RURAL LEADERSHIP
    direct service
    Identifies and selects new cohorts for Project CENTRL, such as Class 34 with 14 members, through a competitive selection process for individuals connected to rural Arizona.
  • Community Rural Council (CRC) Events ARIZONA CENTER FOR RURAL LEADERSHIP
    direct service
    Organizes Community Rural Council (CRC) events focused on community building in rural Arizona towns, such as Bisbee, with planning and implementation led by program alumni and current participants. The next event is tentatively scheduled for October 3rd-4th in Superior.
  • Project CENTRL Leadership Development Program ARIZONA CENTER FOR RURAL LEADERSHIP
    direct service
    Operates Project CENTRL, a twelve-month, tuition-free experiential leadership development program for 16 competitively selected individuals connected to rural Arizona. The program includes nine seminars held across Arizona, Washington, D.C., and Sonora, Mexico, and has graduated multiple classes, contributing to a network of over 700 alumni.