Article by: Class XXVI Communication Team
As the BEST CLASS EVER, Class XXVI members are gaining practical experience and applied knowledge in leadership and project management.
We are connecting with the right groups & leaders. We are strengthening our interpersonal communication skills, learning the importance of diversity, developing creative problem solving techniques, and discovering our area’s unique needs and complexities.
Over the Halfway Point
Having recently returned from our time in Olympia and being over halfway through our year, we can all safely say that we now have a new appreciation for the Tri-Cities.
From our first days in Wenatchee meeting our classmates and voting for our board – the leaders of the leaders – to choosing our class project and establishing a project manager, we continue to grow to have the heart, eyes, hands, feet, and mind of a leader.
“Having grown up in the Tri-Cities, it’s incredible to see how much this area has expanded since my childhood,” says Jamie Ohl Turner, Class XXVI Fundraising & Advocacy Chair. “Even so, one thing that hasn’t changed is the heart and compassion for servant leadership found throughout the Mid-Columbia. Being a part of Leadership Tri-Cities, I have greatly appreciated the chance to reconnect with this region and to have a deeper dive into all that makes the Tri-Cities such a wonderful place to live, work, and play!”
Kendra Palomarez, Class XXVI Secretary, says she has learned so much throughout her LTC experience – about the community, herself, and different industries. The most impactful part of her experience, however, has been the connections with her classmates. “When my dad unexpectedly passed away last month, my classmates were quick to rally and show their support,” she says. “As a relative newcomer to the Tri-Cities, it made me feel like I had a family here.”
Committing to Core Values
In Class XXVI, we are committed to a year of growth, serving each other and our community, and facilitating sustainable change with joy and open-mindedness. Luckily, our Class Project in partnership with Domestic Violence Services of Benton & Franklin Counties (DVSBF) will help us accomplish just that:
- Growth – Helps an established, local non-profit expand its services and support to the community
- Service – Provides Class XXVI the opportunity to utilize our unique and diverse talents to support a well-deserving organization
- Joy – Whatever Class XXVI does, we will do it with joy, as well tangentially help victims find joy in the pathway out of abuse
- Open-Mindedness – Class XXVI members’ personal understanding of domestic abuse will undoubtedly be challenged and expanded
“Class 26 carries the tradition of collaborative excellence in service to our community,” says Kyle Cox, LTC Class XXVI Director & Past President. “They saw an immediate need to support Domestic Violence Services, rolled up their sleeves, and got to work. I’m proud to see each class member bring their unique strengths for greater collective impact.”
Launching a thrift store with Domestic Violence Services of Benton and Franklin Counties (DVSBF)
We invite you to join us in in helping to launch the new DVSBF thrift store which will provide clothing, household goods, jobs, and job training for clients restarting their lives after escaping domestic violence.
To raise funds for this project as well as general awareness about the store, we are offering you the opportunity to join us in an exciting new community event: Fashion With Compassion! Happening on Saturday, April 1, Fashion With Compassion is a two-part event; first, a world class social hour with a silent auction and heavy hors d’oeuvres, and second, a full-length fashion show featuring local leaders and local survivors as well as clothing primarily sourced from the store.
“I encourage all of our alumni and friends to support Class XXVI as they make their project a reality,” says Elizabeth McLaughlin, LTC Board Alumni Relations Chair. “Make a difference by being the difference: your support and generosity will directly benefit the lives of DVSBF clients.”
Please mark your calendars for April 1 as we’d love to see you at our show!
Tickets are on sale now.