Lisa Hughes
RALEIGH — On Sept. 23, Leadership North Carolina held a virtual graduation ceremony for its 27th class. Dubbed the “Most Adaptable Class Ever,” this group of fifty-five civic and community leaders completed the prestigious LNC program despite tornadoes, a pandemic, and other disruptions. They have officially joined the ranks of LNC alumni and will enjoy their formal graduation ceremony as soon as circumstances allow.
Each year, through a rigorous selection process, LNC chooses a class of established and emerging leaders from across the state to participate in its acclaimed program. Leadership North Carolina’s Class XXVII comprises top leaders from the government, business, nonprofit, and education sectors.
Yadkin County Manager Lisa Hughes was among the graduates of the program this year.
“I was honored to be one of 55 leaders from across North Carolina to be selected to participate in Leadership North Carolina (LNC),” said Hughes. “We travelled from Boone to New Bern and learned about our state, as well as topics such as government, economic development, education and health and human services. Our year was cut short due to COVID-19 with our last class on the environment in Asheville postponed until 2021. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many people from all across the state, both class participants and alumni. We have developed friendships and networks that will continue to grow because of LNC.”
Leadership North Carolina’s mission is to inform, develop, and engage committed leaders by broadening their understanding of and involvement in issues and opportunities facing North Carolina. The Leadership North Carolina Program cultivates a network of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences who share a deep commitment to their state. There are more than 1200 graduates of the program whose continued ties to LNC and to one another provide them with rich opportunities for serving North Carolina.
Over the course of five two-and-a-half day sessions the members of LNC Class XXVII learned about issues critical to the state through discussions with top officials and professionals, field trips, and experiential learning activities. LNC’s sessions focused on five key areas: economic development, education, environment, government, and health and human services.
LNC sessions are held around the state, highlighting the social, geographic, and economic diversity of North Carolina. The members of Class XXVII visited Boone, Raleigh, Greensboro, Charlotte, and New Bern before the coronavirus postponed their Asheville session and their graduation ceremony. Through LNC’s program, participants gained new insight into North Carolina’s strengths and challenges and developed their own priorities for ways they can improve and empower their communities and the state as a whole.