Investing in Possibilities: Three 'Easy' Steps to Following Your Passion

Nothing had caught Bill Strickland's attention the way that clay spinning on a wheel did. He was getting by in high school but learning ceramics put a whole new spin on his outlook. It's what got him into the University of Pittsburgh. It's what drove him to share his passion with others in a little row house he named the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild.

Bill admits that his need to share ceramics with others was a selfish motivation, but what it has led to is a powerful change in the Pittsburgh community among teens and adults.

In his book, Make the Impossible Possible, Bill says to "trust your passion, identify your dreams and find the courage to share them with others, no matter how many times they call you a fool."

These are three "easy" steps to finding yourself and your place in the world. But underlying this advice is the need to invest (and I'm not talking IRAs, though they certainly don't hurt). Invest in yourself. Invest in your community. Invest in possibilities.

I'm so excited to share with you all that Bill will be our keynote speaker at our Celebrating Civic Leadership Luncheon on March 6. For those who had the opportunity to meet Bill and tour the Manchester Bidwell facilities during the Leadership Exchange to Pittsburgh, they shared with the rest of the delegation how inspiring he and his work are. He was fearless in sharing his dream and making it a reality for others, and the outcome is now felt all across the country.

We'll also celebrate a local leader, Lisa A. Hill. She has been at the helm of Invest in Kids, which works to bring proven programs to Colorado families that will improve their health and well-being. She and her organization invest in the possibilities of children throughout the state. We are also proud to note that she is an LD '13 alumna.

DaVita Healthcare Partners, Inc. has generously signed on as our Keynote Sponsor to bring Bill here, and Comcast is our Presenting Sponsor. Tables and individual tickets are available, as well as some sponsorship opportunities. Click here to save your seat or learn more.

I look forward to seeing you at the Celebrating Civic Leadership Luncheon!

Mary Ricketson
Executive Director

Senior Executives: Learn about the City Like You Never Have Before with Access Denver

Join Denver-area senior executives for an accelerated two-day program offering access to Denver's leaders and critical tools for becoming active in the community through educational forums and social events. The 2014 program will be held Aug. 21 and 22. Access Denver is an excellent opportunity for senior executives new to Denver, new to their position or wanting to get a deeper understanding of civic issues in the city. Click here to learn more.

Are You Part of the Best Class Ever?

Show Your Pride at the Celebrating Civic Leadership Luncheon March 6

With more than 3,000 Leadership Foundation alumni, there's a lot to celebrate at the 2014 Celebrating Civic Leadership Luncheon on March 6. Prove that yours is the best class ever by rallying your fellow alumni at the luncheon, presented by Comcast. Purchase a table or individual tickets today; sponsorship opportunities are also available. If you bring the most alumni, your class will be named the Leadership Foundation's best class ever for the year. Become a Class Champion and rally your fellow alumni.

Catch Up on Community Issues with Civic Refresh

You graduated from Leadership Denver—the content, the people, the behind-the-scenes experiences—but how do you keep your mind fresh with good ideas? Refresh your mind and your networks with the Leadership Alumni Network's newest offering: Civic Refresh. Catch up on Arts and Culture issues on March 19, Crime and Justice on May 7 and Start Ups and Entrepreneurs on July 23. You can attend a single event for $150 or all three for $400. Organizations can also purchase all three events and send a different team member to each event. Graduation from Leadership Denver is encouraged but not required. Click here for more information or to sign up.

Fall Forum Rewind—Watch Game Changers Kimball Crangle and Rick Petersen

In case you missed Kimball Crangle (LD '08) and Rick Petersen (LD '08) at the Fall Forum or you want to see their inspiring presentation again, click here to watch them now. Kimball is a senior developer at the Denver Housing Authority and Rick is a principal with Oz Architecture. Videos from our other Fall Forum: Game Changers presenters, Jamie Van Leeuwen, Rebecca Holmes and Chris Herndon, are also available online and will be featured in upcoming installments of Leadership Link.

AlumLine

Leadership Denver '05 alumna Angel Gutierrez has been named the Chicago Latino Network's Latino Professional of 2013 and appointed to the Illinois Commission to End Hunger and Chicago's Grocery Store Task Force. Congratulations, Angel!

Leadership Foundation board member Mike Niyompong (ID '08, LD '11 and Colorado Experience) has been named Clayton Early Learning's Chief Operating Officer. Congratulations, Mike!

Let us know what's new with you in AlumLine! We will share alumni updates, such as position changes and promotions, board appointments and more, each month in Leadership Link. Please send your updates to Sara Crocker at sara.crocker@denverleadership.org. Please make your entries pithy; we reserve the right to edit all submissions.