Sheila’s Giving Closet is participating in the 2025 Leadership In Action (LIA) initiative sponsored by Leadership Cowley County.  After completing three peer-learning sessions, Sheila’s Giving Closet team members have continued meeting with Leadership Cowley County facilitators for personal and team leadership coaching, as well as assistance in project development and implementation. Sheila’s Giving Closet LIA team will join with other participating teams from Udall and Burden in early September to share progress and challenges.  A celebration will culminate the work in December.  Participation in 2025 Leadership In Action includes a $5,000 grant for project implementation.

 “We are excited to offer this transformational grant experience to help area community members continue on their leadership path,” stated Leadership Cowley County Chair Cody O’Brien.  “Leadership Cowley County is committed to building social capital to address civic challenges by developing leadership skills, enhancing awareness of community needs and assets, building relationships and networks of trust, and providing opportunities for self-reflection and personal transformation. 

Ours is a community leadership program with the mission to equip and build capacity in people to create change in self, our community and the world.”

“Through our participation in this leadership training program, our Sheila’s Giving Closet team has not only been stirred with new excitement and vision, but we have also gained momentum by networking with and learning from other leaders in our community,” shared Nichole Anderson, Director of Sheila’s Giving Closet & Pantry, “We have learned tools that have better equipped our team to operate within and for our community.”

Leadership is a muscle that needs to be exercised.  To grow and change as leaders means continuing to challenge ourselves with new ideas and greater understanding of ourselves and those we encounter.  Leadership In Action is our newest experiment.  It starts with the idea that leadership is an activity, not a position, and that anyone can lead, anytime, anywhere.  By helping participants to exercise their leadership muscles through peer learning, coaching and a grant-funded project laboratory we combine the desire of individuals to grow as leaders with a passion for creating positive change.