Cheers to the Chamber!

I have two opportunities on my calendar later this week that wouldn’t be there had I not participated in Leadership Denver, so I thought this would be a good time to give a shout out to the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation.

I had the privilege last year of being part of the Leadership Denver Class of 2009 – the most fun class ever. Amidst the fun, we learned valuable lessons about our community and how we can make a difference. This Friday, I get to escort members of the class of 2010 to their school visit during Education Day. Since so many of our communities’ challenges stem from challenges faced by the education community, I found Education Day to be one of the most enlightening. Therefore, I’m excited to escort this year’s class to Arrupe Jesuit High School in northwest Denver. I am personally intrigued by Arrupe Jesuit’s innovative Corporate Work Study Program, and I look forward to learning more on Friday.

On Saturday, the class of 2009 will head to Tennyson Center for Children to complete another Home Makeover Day, during which we will paint and provide some TLC to the cottages in which the kids live. These days are extremely rewarding because of the service we’re able to provide to Tennyson Center and also because they allow our classmates to reconnect and remain in touch long after graduation from Leadership Denver.

I think most of us agree that it’s important to be involved in and give back to our community. Sometimes, though, it’s difficult to know where to start. If you’re in the Denver metro area and you feel like you need more information on how to get involved or more education about what areas need help, please consider signing up for one of the Metro Denver Chamber Leadership Foundation’s many programs, including Access Denver, Impact Denver or Leadership Denver, or the Downtown Denver Partnership’s Leadership Program. If you’re in the Boulder area, check out the Boulder Chamber’s Leadership Boulder County.

I promise you’ll find more ways to get involved and help out than you can count. Then it will be up to you to decide how to make the biggest impact!