Gathering the Village 2025

An invitation to shape change together 

We invite you to be part of a Gathering the Village learning cohort - a special opportunity for leaders who care deeply about creating positive change in our community and are committed to developing skills to do this collaboratively. This program brings together people from different backgrounds who share one important goal: making our community better through connection and collaboration. 

We are looking for people who: 

• Care about bringing people together 

• See the value in working across different groups 

• Want to learn how to create positive change

• Believe in the power of community connections 

Who should participate 

• Community connectors / grassroots leaders / non-positional leaders

• Emerging and existing leaders

• Positional leaders (local government, school, non profit, business)

• We recommend participants be at least 21 years of age. 

Nominating a community connector 

Do you know someone who brings people together? Someone who sees possibilities and builds bridges across different groups? Nominate them for Gathering the Village. By sponsoring their $100 fee, you recognize their special gift for connecting people and ideas. Being nominated is a meaningful honor that celebrates a person's ability to gather others for positive change. 

What you'll experience 

During our six sessions together, you will: 

• Build leadership skills and competencies to navigate change in uncertain times 

• Connect with other community leaders who can support and inspire you

• Discover your unique role in creating community transformation 

• See how community systems connect and how to bring people together 

Program schedule 

These sessions build upon one another to cultivate community. Please commit to being present alongside fellow leaders for the following sessions scheduled from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Davidson Opera House in downtown St. Cloud, Minnesota. 

Session 1: Welcome and Exploring Community Transformation Part 1 - Tuesday, October 8, 2025 

This session provides an overview of the GTV25 course and time to connect with your fellow participants. Explore significant themes and practices emerging around community transformation and consider the role of the Community Capitals Framework in community transformation. 

Session 2: Exploring Community Transformation Part 2 - Tuesday, October 22, 2025 

This session explores what we mean by community transformation and considers examples from communities that have transformed themselves. Imagine community transformation in your community and explore your transformation mindset. 

Session 3: Navigating Complex Community Change - Tuesday, November 5, 2025 

Leading community transformation comes to life through reframing strategy and planning, implementation and management, and learning and evaluation. Past practices may not be adequate. This session describes alternative concepts and practices practitioners can use to navigate complex community change 

Session 4: Adaptive Leadership Skills - Tuesday, November 19, 2025 

Adaptive leadership drives community transformation, helping individuals and organizations adjust and thrive in the face of challenge. This session will focus on developing those adaptive leadership skills and competencies to prepare participants to lead change. 

Session 5: Systems Thinking for Community Transformation — Tuesday, December 3, 2025 

Navigating community transformation requires leaders to bring a complex network of people, projects, and organizations together to create a common agenda. This session will focus on strategies to integrate and align community efforts across projects and systems. 

Session 6: Reflection & Celebration! — Tuesday, December 17, 2025 

Share your plan to apply what you've learned in your community. Celebrate completion of the program with your fellow cohort and engage in idea sharing for what's next. 

Cost 

$100 lunch is included 

If cost is a barrier to participation, please reach out to Ellen Wolter from University of Minnesota Extension at ewolter@umn.edu to discuss scholarship options. 

Please make nominations and submit applications by August 1, 2025. 

Submit your application/nomination - Opening Soon

Program sponsors