For the first time in its lengthy history, Leadership Coachella Valley is partnering with the College of the Desert Foundation to help dedicated and knowledgeable College of the Desert students develop their personal and professional skills, while building strong relationships with other community leaders.

Learning to Lead is a newly created program designed to offer College of the Desert students the unique opportunity of participating in Leadership Coachella Valley’s 10-month leadership program, giving them real world application and insight into the issues our region is facing today and well into the future.

Kicking off the pilot program will be four College of the Desert students. Each will be selected through a competitive application process and will have their enrollment fees paid for as well as be awarded a $1,000 scholarship upon completion of the course. Financial support and guidance will come from the Academic Angels Committee, a group of committed volunteers who for years have supported the College of the Desert Foundation’s fundraising efforts.

Once a month from September through June, the Learning to Lead participants will attend an all-day seminar presented by Leadership Coachella Valley. The format includes a combination of presentations, panel discussions and hands-on visits to locales relevant to the day’s theme. Experts share their insights and views and interact with participants during lively and meaningful discussions.

“As chair of the Academic Angels Committee, we are thrilled Learning to Lead will now be our signature program. Supporting students has always been our first priority,” said Marge Dodge. “Launching this program in a collaborative effort with an organization like Leadership Coachella Valley makes it even more meaningful to our membership group.”

“Collaborative efforts build long-lasting relationships and friendships, and we believe we have found the right partner in the College of the Desert Foundation. Our vision is to ensure the Leadership programming is continually evolving. By including College of the Desert students, we know we are adding a new dynamic to our program which tells our members we are committed to bringing them fresh and relevant content,” said President of the Leadership Coachella Valley Board of Directors, Shawn Abramowitz.

The College of the Desert Learning to Lead participants will grow in awareness and understanding of the issues and challenges facing their community. They will also develop valuable contacts within the community and networking opportunities for the future. Additionally, while participating in the Leadership Coachella Valley program, College of the Desert’s Learning to Lead participants become more invested in making their community a better place to live and work. Most importantly, they can discover valuable information that helps them to uncover their passion in life, as well as expanding on their prospects toward a future career path.

For more information on Learning to Lead and how you can support College of the Desert students participating in this valuable leadership program, please email Catherine Abbott, Executive Director at cabbott@collegeofthedesert.edu.

College of the Desert Foundation was founded in 1983 and serves the Coachella Valley’s largest institution of higher learning. The mission of the College of the Desert Foundation is to act as an advocate for the College and to secure financial support, enhancing the educational opportunities for all students.

For more information on Leadership Coachella Valley, please contact Diana Soto, LCV Administrator, Leadership Coachella Valley at 760.347.0676 or leadershipcv@gmail.com.