What is Leadership McLean County?
Leadership McLean County is a nine-month leadership development program designed to connect emerging and established leaders to the people, organizations, and issues shaping our community. Through hands-on learning experiences and direct access to local leaders, participants gain a deeper understanding of McLean County while growing personally and professionally.
Participants leave the program with stronger leadership skills, expanded professional networks, and a greater understanding of how they can make an impact within their organizations and the community.
What You'll Gain
- Stronger communication and leadership skills
- Expanded professional and community connections
- Greater understanding of local industries and community issues
- Hands-on learning experiences with community leaders
- Increased confidence in decision-making and collaboration
- A broader perspective on civic and organizational leadership
Class Schedule
Classes take place every other Friday from September through April covering a variety of topics & skill development, both in the classroom and through “hands-on” experiences. Class members also participate on a "Community Impact Project" team to create implementable solutions to a community issue.
Leadership McLean county does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation or national origin in any of its activities.
Applications for the Class of 2027 are now open!
Applications MUST BE submitted through the online application form on the Wufoo platform. Unfortunately, the platform does not allow you to save and return to the information once started.
Applications for the Class of 2027 are due July 1st.
Community Impact Projects
Leadership McLean County’s Community Impact Project connects local organizations with skilled leaders to develop projects that create meaningful impact in McLean County.
Project Requirements
Projects should:
- Address a clear community or organizational need
- Include defined goals and deliverables
- Be achievable within the program timeline
- Have long-term sustainability beyond the project period
Application Timeline
- Applications open: May 2026
- Application deadline: August 1, 2026
- Semi-finalist interviews: August 2026
- Selected projects announced: End of August 2026
Projects will be selected for the Leadership McLean County Class of 2027 by the Steering Committee.
For questions, please contact Anna Kowall at anna@mcleancochamber.org.
Past Community Impact Projects
This team partnered with McLean County Arts Center to develop “Chalk the Block,” a youth-focused annual chalk art competition. Their work included creating a marketing and outreach strategy, program guidelines and judging rubric, event implementation plans, and volunteer coordination resources to support the event’s future launch.
Learn more about McLean County Arts Center here.
Meet Our LMC Class of 2026