Leadership Pikes Peak

Leadership Pikes Peak is a gateway to community engagement and is defined by our passion, purpose, and focus.

*Our passion is fostering the vision and courage of citizens to lead.

*Our purpose is helping individuals make the world a better place in their own unique ways.

*Our focus is developing community trustees and facilitating their enduring contributions.

Testimonials

"Homelessness. Hunger. Despair, disease, abuse, and neglect. These are the stark and tragic realities many in our community struggle against every day, and the recession has only made it worse. There is so much suffering in our own back yards. In the face of such stark need in our community, how do I justify giving my money to Leadership Pikes Peak? Isn't LPP just a luxury, a 'nicety' to give to when times are good? I don't believe it is, and that's why I increased my annual gift to LPP this year. It isn't just money that will alleviate these problems and end this suffering. It's people. People with vision, talent, and passion: and with the knowledge and connections to get things done.

Leadership Pikes Peak identifies, develops, and empowers the people we need...to make the difference we need them to make.

Connie Dudgeon
Board Member
Signature Progam
Class of 2007

Women's Community Leadership Initiative (WCLI):

My name is Edith Perez, today I am graduating from WCLI. I am class 2013, the best class ever.
Last week our last class task was to select a little card with a word printed on it; a word that had a meaning about our personal experience with WCLI. It was hard to select just one card from a table where all words seemed to scream at me: "pick me", "pick me", "I am the one."

But, before I can say anything about the word I chose, please, allow me to share a little bit about me; so I can make sense. I came from Panama to the United States almost 20 years ago, following my husband, who serves in the Army. I gave almost all my dreams up because I thought I can only handle my biggest dream, my family. The very first years in the military my husband was gone most of the time due to his duties, and I had to take care of our two daughters without any family support, in a country I didn't know, among a very different culture and with a language I barely understood and didn't speak it at all. We got used to go from one State to another, to not make long-term plans, and to do our best to take care of the important situations and not just the urgent ones. Today our daughters are 20 and 16 years old and a lot more independent; what gives me more time for me, myself and I. I had some English classes back in Panama during my Elementary; but I never speak it until almost two years ago when I decided to step out of my home; that was not as easy step as I believed it would be, I found myself facing the fear of the unknown. I started going to employment and career fair, and it was at one of these that I was recommended to apply to the WCLI program. I am so happy I did it, because it's thanks to WCLI that I relearn a vital lesson.

At WCLI I didn't just learn many important lessons, I became aware of many opportunities to get actively involved in my community and I also got an overview of Colorado Springs' local government, education, economy, arts, infrastructure, among other important issues. Nevertheless, one of the most valuable lessons I graduate today from WCLI is the fact that communication skills are the cornerstone to communicate effectively ideas and dreams. Before WCLI I was completely terrified to even think about answering the telephone, the truth is that I didn't. Today, I don't just answer my phone, but I began to share my ideas and dreams, in English. And I am looking forward to increase my communication skills in order to serve better my community and because it feels good, this confidence is a good feeling. And this is the reason I chose the word communication.

I feel very blessed with the support I received through WCLI, my family, my church and my faith; this support has helped me to start serving as an advocate for abused and neglected children in El Paso and Teller County through CASA. I also got inspired to chase a new dream, my Master in Nutrition at UCCS. I know this is just the beginning of many new dreams to accomplish.

Thank you every single one at WCLI and everybody else who is celebrating our graduation.

Check out another WCLI testimonial here: http://youtu.be/oMobBMNnzL0

More Leadership Pikes Peak stories: http://www.leadershippikespeak.org/category/stories/