As Arizona and the rest of the world grapple with the impact of COVID-19, Valley Leadership is launching a new, completely virtual program to mobilize all interested Arizonans in the face of this crisis. Ready Together will cultivate and prepare leaders to identify and solve the pressing issues further exposed by the pandemic.
Designed as a living lab, the program will gather a diverse cross section of voices from across Arizona to examine our entire community ecosystem—from health care, housing and food security to jobs and education. Ready Together will expand knowledge and perspectives to provide interested Arizonans with the tools, network and information to plug in and make a difference.
“Going forward, there is no such thing as business as usual,” says Dave Brown, Valley Leadership CEO. “As our leadership, board, alumni and partners mobilized in the face of the pandemic, it was clear that in order to be most relevant to our community, we needed to stand up an experience that gives Arizonans the space to process and prepare for our collective new reality. Ready Together was created to directly respond to this crisis. Our hope is to grow the desire and ability of all our citizens to play a meaningful role in Arizona’s recovery.”
Valley Leadership is recruiting individuals from all over the state and from all occupations, including front-line workers. Ready Together will be the 40-year-old organization’s first completely virtual program, combining individual reflection and small-group work with live, online sessions that are short, dynamic and engaging. The program was designed to be sensitive to both time commitment and cost.
Guided by Valley Leadership’s Principles of Doing—being driven to do; putting Arizona first; building trust; having a team mindset; and acting with integrity—Ready Together will utilize the strength of Valley Leadership’s proven approach to empowering Arizonans to lead. Content and discussions will draw from the expertise and experiences of thought leaders, subject matter experts across industries and essential front-line workers facing the daily challenges of the pandemic. Ready Together will address the need for collaboration and systems building, the gaps of personal success based on where you live and the inspiring power of everyday leadership.
“What tomorrow holds for the health of Arizona’s families, our children’s success and the strength of our economy will depend on the resiliency and leadership of people throughout our communities,” says Michelle McGinty, Valley Leadership board president. “The organization’s long-standing mission is to empower, leverage and mobilize leaders for impact, and Ready Together sets that mission into action. We want all of Arizona to emerge from this crisis stronger and ready to tackle our most pressing issues.”
The application for Valley Leadership’s Ready Together program is now open and is due by June 22. This is a one-time program.
Because of the unprecedented nature of COVID-19, Valley Leadership is offering Ready Together this year only and plans to return to its regular program schedule in fall 2021.
Valley Leadership empowers, leverages and mobilizes leaders to meaningfully impact the most pressing issues facing Arizona. As the Valley’s premier leadership organization, Valley Leadership has a proven and long-standing track record of making deep impacts on the community. Our roots date back to the late 1970s, when a group of Valley visionaries recognized the need to identify and develop the next generation of leadership. Our founders imagined an annual succession of educated change agents dedicated to the best possible future for our region. Almost 40 years later, this vision has produced nearly 3,000 alumni. Through high-quality education, unprecedented access and an innovative network, Valley Leadership goes beyond traditional leadership programs by empowering youth and high-potential, proven leaders to advance their passions and accelerate their pursuits. Learn more at valleyleadership.org.
