Program positions mid-career individuals for civic impact
The Cleveland Leadership Center has selected the Cleveland Bridge Builders Class of 2025 , which will bring together a diverse cohort of public, private, nonprofit, and governmental mid-career professionals.
The 10-month program, which kicks off this September, will challenge individuals to build relationships with a wide range of leaders and explore ways they can make meaningful change that has impact across Northeast Ohio.
Members were chosen through a highly competitive application and selection process during which identifying information about each was redacted. “This blind selection process ensures that those selected are uniquely positioned to impact the community once they complete the program,” said CLC President and CEO Marianne Crosley. “They already have demonstrated leadership and commitment to Cleveland. CBB will build on those strengths and provide new tools for greater impact.”
Bridge Builders will explore such topics such as emotional intelligence, implicit bias, power and influence, and collaborative leadership. Teams of class members will assist local organizations in tackling specific initiatives through Leadership Action Projects. (See the CBB Class of 2024 projects here.)
The diversity of the class is one of its strengths, Crosley said. Participants come from a variety of employment sectors: social service, manufacturing, law, education, finance, technology, the arts, and more. Nearly 30% identify as BIPOC and 11% as LGBTQ+.
When CBB 2025 concludes, members will join only 1,319 others who have completed the program since the first class graduated in 2001. They also become part of a network of more than 10,700 alumni of all Cleveland Leadership Center programs.
Bridge Builders is one of the Leadership Center’s suite of programs that build a continuum of civic leaders committed to our community’s excellence. On July 11, 2024, the Leadership Center announced the senior-level leaders who will participate in the Leadership Cleveland Class of 2025.
Other CLC programs include the Look Up To Cleveland program for high school students, Campus Cleveland for college students, OnBoard Cleveland for young professionals, Legacy Leaders for retirees, Civic Leadership Institute for adults of any age, and Advanced Leadership Institute which brings together three generations of leaders.
CLC also presents the annual Spark: Grit to Great symposium on innovation in leadership, which will be August 29, 2024; and the annual Accelerate: Citizens Make Change civic pitch competition which marks its 11th year on February 20, 2025.
Every Wednesday, CLC offers its free, virtual Leader Lunch Break series so anyone can learn about issues and happenings in an informal conversation with top leaders.
See the CBB Class of 2025 roster here.
Visit www.cleveleads.org/CBB for more about the program.
Visit www.cleveleads.org for more about CLC.
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About the Cleveland Leadership Center (CLC)
The Cleveland Leadership Center’s mission is to build a continuum of civic leaders committed to our community’s excellence by serving as a catalyst for civic engagement. CLC believes in the power of individuals to make positive change and inspires and connects them to transform Cleveland.
Media contact
Michael E. Bennett, Vice President of External Affairs
Work: (216) 592-2426, Cell: (216) 408-3874, mbennett@cleveleads.org