Northwest Minnesota needs new leaders. As Minnesotans age, they are seeking new leaders to step in to lead. And as civic organizations change, they need different kinds of leaders to face the future.
Meanwhile, many community members aren't aware of existing leadership opportunities or haven’t yet been invited to contribute and lead.
Adapted from the Red River Valley Emerging Leaders Program, Growing Local Leadership (GLL) has expanded to meet the evolving needs of our communities in Northwest Minnesota. The program continues to build personal confidence, enhance leadership skills, and strengthen regional connections. GLL learners explore how they can serve as changemakers within their communities — by serving on boards and committees, or in other meaningful ways. It empowers participants to become effective, authentic, and compelling leaders — however they choose to lead.
Communities in Northwest Minnesota will benefit from this program. They will:
Next cohort starts: October 10, 2026
Location: Online and in-person
Participants should:
There is a sliding fee scale for participation (note below list). This will be put towards meals and lodging for the in-person sessions.
Note: If interested in participating and need assistance meeting the requirements (e.g., Internet access, transportation, childcare), some funding is available. We do not want cost to be a barrier to participating.
Decisions on the 2026-2027 GLL cohort will be made through a rubric that considers growth in leadership, ability/commitment to complete the program, county affiliation/geography, and building a pool of new leaders in the northwest region, along with input from the present advisory committee and Extension personnel. Priority will be given to county emerging leaders and representation across the region.
Session 1 (in-person): Cohort launch
Saturday, October 10, 2026, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: to be announced
Session 2 (virtual): Launching your community leadership
Wednesday, November 11, 2026, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Session 3 (virtual): Community readiness
Wednesday, December 2, 2026, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Session 4 (virtual): Boundaries, burnout, and emotional intelligence
Wednesday, January 13, 2027, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Session 5 (virtual): Navigating and leading through conflict
Wednesday, February 3, 2027, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Session 6 (in-person): Storytelling
Saturday, March 13, 2027, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: to be announced
Session 7 (virtual): Leadership story
Wednesday, April 7, 2027, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Session 8 (in-person): Moving forward with visionary leadership, action and celebration
Saturday, May 15, 2027, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: to be announced
Jennifer Aranda is a University of Minnesota Extension educator for leadership and civic engagement in the Department of Community Development. Her background includes service and community-building with a focus on marginalized populations, particularly in rural and greater Minnesota.
Jennifer has worked with community-based organizations, non-profits, and higher education institutions to explore the many facts of belonging. She has provided training and facilitated dialogue to build pathways leading to change. A resident of Moorhead, Minnesota, Jennifer is an advocate for projects that promote an enhanced understanding of equity and justice. Jennifer has a doctorate in education, holds an Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) Qualified Administrator License, and is a Gallup-Certified Strengths
Craig Campbell (he/him) is a University of Minnesota Extension leadership and civic engagement community educator in the northeast region of the state. He has expertise in program planning, adult learning theory, facilitation methods, placemaking, qualitative and community-based action research. Craig holds a doctor of education in adult and higher education (community development, international and popular education emphasis) from Northern Illinois University (NIU). At the intersection of good adult education and community development principles, Craig always begins his work by starting with the learner’s knowledge and experience and moving outward together to co-create inclusive programs and opportunities
Contact Raven Warren, program coordinator.
An emerging leader is someone who has not been in a formal leadership position (like a school board member) or has not received leadership education or leadership training, and is dedicated to making their community a space where everyone feels a sense of belonging. We support our program's emerging leaders in envisioning themselves and ultimately serving on public and other local boards and commissions.
We ask that nominators consider the following people as future leaders for their community.
We also encourage learning partners. Research shows that pairs who learn together are more engaged and gain additional understanding of concepts as they discuss them with a partner. Learning partners can be added at any time before the first session.
Using resident data, Extension research shows the demand for leaders in Minnesota counties. Our numbers assume that adults are 18 years and over, five leaders are needed per government office, and six leaders per non-profit.
For over 40 years, Extension has been investing in leadership education for Northwest Minnesota through the Emerging Leadership Program. In 2024, Extension created this new iteration to better address the need to address the leadership gap by exploring ways to engage more people in leadership education programs.
We call upon existing leaders, alumni of the Emerging Leadership Program, local government, health, and non-profit organizations to make a difference by nominating program participants.
Do you or someone you know have the potential to lead? Apply now or nominate them. Primary factors to consider are emerging leadership and potential, interest, and commitment to participate in the Growing Local Leadership program.
As Extension chooses participants, we will consider participation across the 21 counties that the program serves. We hope to recruit people who do not currently hold leadership positions and/or haven’t participated in leadership education experiences in the past.
Reviewed in 2024
© 2026 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.