Homegrown Leaders

The NC Rural Center is hosting a series of Homegrown Leaders trainings over the next two years across 42 counties in Eastern NC.  Homegrown Leaders receives generous support from Anonymous Trust, NC Community Foundation, Smithfield Foods, First National Bank, NC Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, and the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

Homegrown Leaders is a regional leadership and economic development training that develops and supports highly-skilled, highly-motivated leaders and emerging leaders who are committed to regional collaboration. Homegrown Leaders addresses the need for high-quality, professional leadership and economic development training that equips community leaders with the skills they need to lead long-term economic advancement in their community and region and seeks to increase cooperation, collaboration, and coordination across a broad array of organizations and sectors. 

Homegrown Leaders Helps Emerging Regional Leaders:

• Increase understanding of comprehensive community economic development with an emphasis on equity, inclusion, resilience, and regional connectivity
• Increase understanding of regional data and trends
• Practice effective collaboration at the local and regional levels
• Increase knowledge of and access to regional assets and resources
• Build regional networks of community leaders that promote peer learning, resource sharing, and collaboration

Next Homegrown Leaders Training:

What: Applications are now being accepted for the next cohort of Homegrown Leaders who live in or serve the following counties: Edgecombe, Halifax, Hertford, Martin, Nash, Northampton, and Wilson counties.

When: The first training is on November 18-20 from 9:00am – 1:00pm and is virtual due to COVID-19. Future trainings are TBA.  

Where: The first training, on November 18-20, 2020 will be held as a virtual training using Zoom. All accepted participants will receive the Zoom training link upon participant confirmation. Future trainings will be held in the region.

Who: The training on November 18-20, 2020 is open to anyone who lives in or works in the following NC counties: Edgecombe, Halifax, Hertford, Martin, Nash, Northampton, and Wilson counties.

Cost: $150* Payment is not due until you have been accepted.
*Limited scholarships are made possible by NC Community Foundation and Anonymous Trust

Important Dates:

• October 9 | Application period closes.
• October 30 | Accepted applicants are notified.
• November 13 | Registration & payment due.
• November 18 – 20 | Homegrown Leaders Virtual Training.

The application period has closed.

Accepted applicants will be notified by Friday, October 30. 

The next Homegrown Leaders training will take place in early 2021 and focus on Bertie, Carteret, Beaufort, Craven, Greene, Lenoir, Pamlico, and Pitt Counties.

Subscribe to the NC Rural Center newsletter and follow us on social media to receive important updates on this training.