Expand Magazine - Volume 6 Issue 1

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Leading the Way
Leadership Siouxland
By Peggy Smith
How Can I Make A Positive Difference
On As Many People As Possible?
One of my favorite things about being the
Executive Director of Leadership Siouxland is
the opportunity to help class participants find
their passion and become involved in making a positive
difference in the Siouxland community.
Our November session is traditionally devoted
to educating the class on several mission-driven
organizations within Siouxland – their mission, their
impact, and how people can get involved. An assignment
before the session is to view the YouTube TedTalk by
Adam Braun, founder of Pencils of Promise, entitled “Five
Phrases That Can Change Your Life.” His presentation
always inspires me and guides me on the key points that
can make me a better person, and a better contributor
to our community.
themselves and what they are capable of when using
their innate talents.
One of the goals of the nine-month curriculum is
to cultivate community involvement by program
graduates. Many class members are unfamiliar with the
process of becoming a board member, or how to find
a board that “fits” them. “Get out of your comfort zone”
is another of Adam Braun’s phrases. Becoming a board
member is often outside of a participant’s comfort zone,
and therefore helps them grow as an individual and a
leader. The class is provided with resources that inform
them on the types of boards, board governance, habits
of effective board members, and questions to consider
if they are considering joining a board. Leadership
Siouxland strives to equip participants with tools to
“Make the little decisions with your head, and the big ones with your heart.
– Adam Braun
“How can you create the most positive impact on as
many lives as possible?” is one of Adam’s phrases that
encourages us to think about what we can do, and how
we can get involved. At our November 2 session, our
class heard from eight agencies – New Perspectives, Inc.;
Siouxland Soup Kitchen; Hope Street; Life Skills Training
Center; CAASA; Unity in the Community; Simple Life;
and Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa. If you are not familiar
with these great organizations and what they do to help
Siouxlanders have a better life, I encourage you to take
the time to visit their websites and discover the impact
they are making every day.
Six different project “teams” were formed from this year’s
Leadership Siouxland class of 37 individuals. Each team
will partner with one of the agencies that presented on
November 2, or another organization within Siouxland,
and work together between December and May to
complete a project that will meet the organization’s
needs. Working together as a team with a shared passion
is a great way for the class to understand and utilize each
team member’s skills and talents, and better understand
”
help them on their personal leadership journey, and their
journey to help others.
My favorite of Adam Braun’s five phrases is this one –
“Make the little decisions with your head, and the big ones
with your heart.” If we listen to our heart, we can find our
passion; if we find our passion, we can make a positive
difference and leave a legacy we can be proud of.
The mission of Leadership Siouxland is to develop diverse,
passionate leaders who positively impact our community for
today and tomorrow. Leadership Siouxland began in 1984
and is proud of the over 1200 graduates who make positive
differences each and every day. To learn more, contact
Peggy Smith, Executive Director, at 712-898-8594 or email
info@leadershipsiouxland.org.
Peggy Smith, Executive Director of Leadership Siouxland, an
organization devoted to developing leaders who make a positive
difference in the Siouxland community.