History

Early in its history, the Evanston Community Foundation did a survey to determine key needs of Evanston. A key identified issue was the need to nurture a broader and deeper pool of new leadership in Evanston. The Foundation Board created a pilot planning group and gave an initial grant in 1991 to engage a consultant to evaluate the efficacy of a leadership development program.

Based on the consultant’s recommendations, a planning group chaired by Betty Papangelis and made up of a diverse group of local residents worked together to create a 10-month program and recruit the first class. In September 1992, the initial 26 Leadership Evanston participants began their adventure together, coordinated by founding Project Director Carol Mullins and facilitator Cleo Alexander.  In 1999, current Director Marybeth Schroeder took over the helm of the program.  In 2008, Jane Grover joined as Assistant Director of Leadership Evanston.  From January to July 2009, Kelly Kirkpatrick is serving as Coordinator of Leadership Evanston while Jane is on leave.  

Today, Leadership Evanston is thriving, with several initiatives that work to increase community and civic engagement and build positive and committed leadership for the community. Since 1992, key events and accomplishments include:

• Signature Program: Signature Leadership Evanston has continued to develop and change. Through an Illinois state grant, the Steering Committee was able to retool the program to improve its emphasis on leadership skill-building in 2000-2001.
  
  
• Senior Leadership Evanston: Designed for retired and semi-retired citizens, Senior Leadership Evanston was piloted in spring 2004 with the generous support of the Retirement Research Foundation.   For the last three years, Senior Leadership Evanston has been generously supported by Three Crowns Park, an Evanston retirement community. 
  
  
• Snapshot: Begun in 1999, Snapshot Evanston offers short community and customized programs to introduce local residents and employees to Evanston’s history, culture and current issues. 
  
  
• Public Service Challenge: Since 2000, Leadership Evanston has been a leader in a broad community coalition to encourage increased community involvement in local elections.
  
  
• Alumni:  430 individuals who live or work in Evanston have graduated from Signature Leadership Evanston and Senior Leadership Evanston, and 80% continue to be part of  the Evanston community.
  
  
• Volunteer website: Leadership Evanston is a partner with Northwestern University on Volunteer Connection (formerly CASE), a website that helps match organizations needing volunteers with volunteers.