Tempe Leadership

10/25/2026

❤

https://www.instagram.com/p/De2cEHey37e/?rpxt=ejN2NzJ2b3g3c2V5

10/14/2026

From devastation to renewal. From storm to shade. 🌱

One year ago, a devastating microburst swept through Tempe, changing our community's landscape in a matter of minutes. With winds reaching 90 mph and approximately 700 trees lost, the storm left a lasting impact on the parks, neighborhoods, and spaces we love.

But out of that devastation came something pretty incredible — a community determined to rebuild, recover, and grow stronger together. 💚

We're so proud that Tempe Leadership Class XLI was a part of that story through their class project, Storm to Shade!

The trees they planted represent so much more than shade. They're a symbol of recovery, resilience, and a lasting legacy for future generations.

Class XLI members Sarah Gomez and Kyle Carman, along with Tempe Mayor Corey Woods and City of Tempe Urban Forester Richard Adkins, were featured in ABC15's coverage reflecting on Tempe's recovery one year after the storm.

Knowing that the trees we planted will become part of Tempe's legacy is a pretty incredible feeling.

A huge thank you to our classmates, community partners, donors, and the City of Tempe for helping turn this vision into reality. This is what community leadership is all about!

Read and watch the ABC15 story:
https://www.abc15.com/news/region-southeast-valley/tempe/one-year-after-tempe-microburst-community-reflects-on-recovery-and-rebuilding

🌳 Learn more about Class XLI's project Storm to Shade: https://classxli.com/storm-to-shade.html

10/13/2026

One year ago we shared this group photo of Class XLI!

Introducing Class XLI of the 2025–2026 Adult Leadership Program. Congratulations to these exceptional leaders — we look forward to watching your impact grow in the Tempe Leadership community

Adam Duran-Leftin
Carly Schorman
Chelsie Erwin
Desiree Sloat
Diane “Alleycats” Melrose
Elvis Taska
Gretchen Long
Joy White
Karri Hill
Kassandra Beavers
Kema Charles
Kendra Flory
Kyle Carman
Lauren Gunneman
Lyle Bighorn
Marissa Gibson
Miranda Washburn
Sarah Gomez
Sreedevi Kota

10/11/2026

“Aha!” moments and local pizza, Day 3 of Tempe Leadership was one for the books!

Our current Tempe Leadership class XLII explored the world of Business this week at Junior Achievement of Arizona, where Eddie Mehta (Class 26) kicked off the day with a warm welcome!

Here’s a look at some of the highlights:
✨ Inside BizTown: Toured JA BizTown to see firsthand how Junior Achievement inspires and prepares the next generation of leaders.

🌵 Going Local: Heard from Aly Saxe of Local First Arizona about the importance and impact of supporting local businesses.

🎨 The “Colors” Tradition: Board President Kate Vawter (Class ###) led this engaging leadership styles activity, sparking “aha!” moments as they explored their individual preferences and discovered new ways to strengthen communication, collaboration, and connections within the cohort.

🎤 Alumni Insights: An incredible panel of alumni shared fundraising tips, lessons learned, and advice to help the class prepare for their upcoming projects.

📊 City Insights: City of Tempe CFO Lisette Camacho closed out the day with an insightful look at the city’s budget process.

🍕 Connections Across Classes: We also welcomed seven alumni for lunch hosted by Spinato’s Pizzeria, bringing together great food, meaningful conversations, and connections across Tempe Leadership classes!

A day full of learning, leadership, and community connections! ❤️

👉 Tempe Leadership alumni: Do you remember your “Colors” workshop? Share your color or favorite “aha!” moment in the comments! 👇

10/01/2026

Applications for Tempe Youth Leadership are still open. To learn more, visit https://tempeleadership.org/tempe-youth-leadership/

Applicants need to be attending a Tempe Union High School District school as a sophomore, junior, or senior and passionate about community involvement.

09/30/2026

Day two of Class 42 was packed with energy, insights, and powerful connections!

The cohort kicked things off by unlocking their "Superhero Strengths" before diving into a deep, reflective personal values workshop led by Board President Kate Vawter (Class ###). The momentum kept building with a standout presentation by classmate Nick Heiser, who challenged everyone to think about how they show up as leaders—are we multipliers or diminishers?

Over a catered lunch from Someburros, the class welcomed eight fantastic alumni back to the table, paving the way for an insightful alumni panel packed with real-world advice on tackling class projects. The day wrapped up with a behind-the-scenes tour of the North Tempe Multigenerational Center and an interactive, hands-on workshop by Sarah Gomez (Class XLI) on the true "how" of seamless collaboration.

From individual strengths to collective impact, Class 42 is building a strong foundation for leading and working together!

09/12/2026

Tempe Leadership Class XLII is officially underway!

Day one was all about connection, community, and building a strong foundation for the year ahead.

A huge thank you to the Tempe History Museum for hosting this year’s kickoff. Gretchen Long (Class XLI) helped set the tone for the year ahead, followed by lunch from South Tempe favorite Feta Cowboy and an exclusive behind-the-scenes archives tour led by THM Director Josh Roffler (Class XXIX).

One of the day’s standout moments came when new class member Aaron Villicana gave an impromptu tour of the nearby Edna Vihel Arts Center, a perfect example of the connections that define this community and program.

The afternoon wrapped with a conversation featuring Board President Dr. Kate Vawter (Class ###) and Tempe Mayor Corey Woods, giving class members the chance to connect around the issues shaping Tempe’s future.

A Tempe Leadership tradition, the first day concluded with our “Community Service” gathering! Thank you to Four Peaks Brewing Co. for hosting us at their Wilson tasting room and to all the alumni who came out to welcome Class XLII into the Tempe Leadership family.

We look forward to seeing everyone at our next community mixer on November 6.

09/10/2026

Here's a photo from our Community Service kick-off last year -- do you recognize anyone?

Our kick-off for Class XLII (42) is tomorrow! Meet us at 430pm at Four Peaks Brewery in Tempe (2401 S Wilson St). All are welcome, whether you're an alumnus or not.

Bonus points if you RSVP --> https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tempe-community-mixer-tickets-1998788342739

04/16/2026

Applications are open to join the Tempe Leadership Council! Link in bio or copy the link below!
https://forms.gle/MFao38nTyGbq4D1Y8

04/02/2026

Mark your calendars! Tempe Leadership graduation for both our Youth and Adult programs is April 17th starting at 5:30, at Tempe Center for the Arts! Come out and support our 2025-2026 classes!