By Dani Esperanza
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May 26, 2026
On Thursday, May 21, community members gathered at the Athens Armory to celebrate the graduates of the 2026 Leadership Athens County Flagship and Youth cohorts, honor 20 years of Leadership Athens County, and officially launch the Leadership Athens County Alumni Association. Hosted by the Athens County Foundation, the evening reflected the program’s long-standing commitment to cultivating local leadership rooted in connection, collaboration, and service. Over the past two decades, Leadership Athens County has brought together emerging and established leaders from across the region to deepen their understanding of Athens County, strengthen relationships, and develop the skills needed to create meaningful community impact. In her opening remarks, Athens County Foundation Executive Director Kerry Pigman reflected on the program’s origins and enduring purpose. “Leadership Athens County exists because people chose to invest in each other and in this community,” Pigman shared. “Tonight may represent the end of your program, but it is also an invitation. An invitation to stay engaged.” Throughout the evening, speakers returned to a common theme: leadership in Athens County is built through relationships, trust, and a shared commitment to community. Communications and Engagement Manager Emily Prince, a member of the very first Leadership Athens County cohort in 2006, reflected on how the program shaped her own leadership journey and deepened her sense of belonging in Athens County. “Leadership Athens County helped me to find the opportunities I needed to be who I want to be,” Prince said. “I want to be a person who forges a path, clears the rocks, and levels the roots. I want the next generation’s road to be smoother than mine so that they can run farther.” Graduates from both the adult and youth cohorts shared personal introductions of one another throughout the ceremony, highlighting the relationships, growth, and mutual support developed over the year. Their reflections emphasized the diversity of leadership styles and experiences represented across Athens County, from educators, nonprofit professionals, artists, healthcare workers, and advocates to students already stepping into leadership roles within their schools and communities. Leadership Athens County facilitator Dani Esperanza reminded attendees that the program is grounded in an asset-based approach to leadership. “The leaders we need are already here,” Esperanza said during the commencement ceremony. “We don’t need a ‘hero’ leader who will save the day and come up with all the solutions. We need to identify our individual and collective strengths, harness them to make change, and support one another throughout the process.” The event also marked the official launch of the Leadership Athens County Alumni Association, an initiative designed to strengthen connections among the program’s more than 400 alums and create opportunities for continued collaboration, mentorship, service, and learning. Speaking during closing remarks, Leadership Athens County alumna Mallory Swaim reflected on the importance of sustaining those connections long after graduation. “The greatest strength of Athens County has never been a building, an institution, or a single organization,” Swaim said. “It has always been the people. The people are willing to invest in one another. The people willing to stay engaged.” The evening also included fundraising efforts to support the Leadership Athens County Fund, which is helping to seed an endowment dedicated to supporting Leadership Athens County Youth in perpetuity and to ensuring that future young leaders can participate fully regardless of financial barriers. As the evening concluded, graduates, alums, families, and community partners celebrated not only the accomplishments of the 2026 cohorts but also the growing network of leaders who continue to shape the future of Athens County together. Nomination forms are open for both the Flagship and Youth Programs:
