Registration for 2026 Leadership Chapel Hill-Carrboro is Open!
Leadership Class of 2025 at their first session, Experiential Learning at Triangle Training Center
About Leadership Chapel Hill-Carrboro
What: Leadership Chapel Hill-Carrboro is an immersive personal and professional development program designed to inform, connect, and engage experienced and future leaders in the Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro community.
Who: Participants are experienced or emerging leaders who live and/or work in our region and share a desire to promote a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro. Hallmarks of participants include a commitment to community service, a passion for learning, and a willingness to serve in key volunteer leadership roles.
Why: Participants broaden their understanding of issues and opportunities facing the region, refine their leadership skills, make important connections, and deepen their influence through ongoing networking and service opportunities.
How: A cohort-based learning experience with dozens of panels, tours, and workshops over 8 months. Leadership combines presentations, experiential learning activities, and facilitated dialogue to help participants better understand key issues in our region related to the economy, government, education, health, economic development, and the environment.
Leadership Class of 2025 during their history tour of through UNC’s Campus
Requirements & Schedule
Requirements: To successfully complete the program, earn a certificate, and become a Leadership Fellow, participants must do three things:
- Attend all sessions (up to two excused absences permitted with completion of make-up assignments).
- Complete the Community Passport (an individual checklist of community activities, such as taking public transportation, attending a public meeting, participating in a patrol ride-along, and hosting a dinner prepared with local ingredients).
- Complete Small Miracles (a team-based project through which the cohort collectively selects an area nonprofit organization and implements a fundraising plan to meet relevant organizational needs.
Schedule: Leadership 2026 includes 10 sessions over 8 months, usually Thursdays from 8am-5pm. The following is the 2025 schedule, but topics and times are subject to change.
- Session 1: Kickoff Reception– May 7th from 5pm-7:30pm
- Session 2: Experiential Learning at Triangle Training- May 14th
- Session 3: Community History, Governance and Bus Tour – June 11th
- Session 4: Arts, Tourism and Justice - July 9th
- Session 5: Health, Housing + Human Services – August 13th
- Session 6: The University and Health Care Systems – September 10th
- Session 7: Economic and Community Development - October 8th
- Session 8: Education and Workforce Development – October 29th
- Session 9: Public Safety and Community Resiliency – November 12th
- Session 10: Community Impact and Graduation - Thursday, December 17th
"I can honestly say, I finished the Leadership Chapel Hill-Carrboro program a different person than when I started. I initially was reluctant to participate but quickly learned the only thing I needed to do was to show up fully present and to share the information I learned along the way, with those who could use it. While it is a commitment, it is well worth the investment! If you are at all interested in learning more about the community where you serve or live alongside other leaders from diverse professions, this program will exceed your expectations"
-Akela Yarn, College Liaison, Durham Tech (Leadership Class Co-President 2025)
Registration
Enrollment Fee:
| Non-member | Chamber Member | |
| Before April 2nd | $2,150 | $1,850 |
| April 2nd-24th | $2,300 | $2,000 |
What’s Included: Access to places not open to the public; intimate discussions with top civic, campus and business leaders; meaningful connections with two dozen or more fellow leaders, all lunches, some breakfasts, and lots of snacks and coffees.
Cancellation Policy: Cancellations before the early bird registration date of Friday, April 2nd are fully-refundable. Cancellations until the final registration deadline of Friday, April 24th are 50% refundable. Cancellations after the registration deadline are not refundable but deferment may be an option in the case of an emergency.
Discounts: Chamber Major Investors are entitled to discounts. Community Champions and Community Investors receive $875 off; Community Builders and Community Leaders receive $450 off.
Partial Scholarships: The Chamber does not want finances to be a barrier to your learning journey. A limited number of partial scholarships are available. Email Michelle Brown to learn more about scholarship opportunities.
Registration: Click here to register for Leadership 2026. Those who enroll commit to the participation and payment requirements and, given the time commitment, must verify the full support of their employers.
Leadership Class of 2025 at their “Boots On The Ground” Fundraiser supporting Family Reading Partners
Learn More about Leadership Chapel Hill-Carrboro
Background: Since 1985, Leadership Chapel Hill-Carrboro has offered an annual series of cutting-edge sessions to current and emerging regional leaders. Leadership supports the exploration of multiple perspectives in a safe and respectful environment. Participants build their personal and professional networks as they turn knowledge into action and leverage resources for the benefit of the community and its people. Leadership is managed by The Chamber for A Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro and is designed to develop a continual pool of leadership talent for Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro.
Sponsor: Become a sponsor of Leadership (opportunities available from $800-$5,000). For questions about sponsorship, contact Chamber Director of Business Engagement and Workforce Development, Michelle Brown.
Contact: For questions about the Leadership journey, content, participation, logistics, fees, and scholarships, contact Michelle Brown.
Leadership Class of 2025 at their Graduation Ceremony
"As Town Manager of Carrboro, Leadership Chapel Hill–Carrboro provided me with a valuable opportunity to step outside of daily operations and connect more deeply with leaders from across our community. The experience strengthened relationships, broadened my understanding of regional challenges and opportunities, and reinforced how much we can accomplish when we collaborate across sectors. I left the program even more inspired by the people and partnerships that make Chapel Hill and Carrboro such special places to serve."
-Patrice Toney, Carrboro Town Manager (Leadership Class 2025)