Leadership Lawrence
Leadership Lawrence Program
Leadership Lawrence, a program of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, is a professional development program that provides participants first-hand exposure to the inner workings of Lawrence and Douglas County. The only criteria is that participants must live or work in Lawrence or Douglas County.
The mission of Leadership Lawrence shall be to make connections through personal and professional growth to engage, inspire and strengthen our community. View the Leadership Lawrence Class of 2025 here!
Since 1982, the program has developed nearly 1,000 leaders in the community. Leadership Lawrence alumni have a high-level of engagement with the organization and the community after graduation. Nearly 85 percent of Leadership Lawrence graduates who were polled in a survey about the program’s effectiveness reported that their community service had increased since graduating from the program. Additionally, nearly half of the respondents serve in an officer role or for a community organization, while more than 67 percent have worked on a political campaign.
Need more reason to participate in our Community Leadership Program? Check out this study from the Kansas Leadership Center, showing the impact of those who go through CLPs and the benefits.
“These results are a true testament to the effectiveness of the program to develop action-oriented leaders who have the knowledge, skills, capacities and connections to facilitate meaningful change in our community.” – Sue Hack, Executive Director
Working with the community leaders and leadership trainers, class members learn leadership and facilitation skills that can be used to make Lawrence an even better community.
The program begins with a two-day leadership skill building retreat in September, in which participants gain and practice skills as they learn more about specific topics of community interest. Nine additional one-day sessions prepare Leadership Lawrence participants to implement collaborative leadership skills in their businesses, boards and civic groups as well as their personal lives.
Who Can Participate
Participants in Leadership Lawrence are selected after consideration of the following qualities:
- A commitment to develop and practice new leadership skills
- A genuine interest and willingness to be involved in the community
- Concern for the future of Lawrence and Douglas County
- A record of community involvement
- The ability to commit to all class sessions.
“Leadership Lawrence fosters self-improvement and the desire to serve others. While these are admirable traits in our personal lives, they are crucial in the business world. Your knowledge and drive is usually what differentiates you, and your company, from your competition.” – Chad Luce, Manager of Customer & Community Relations, Evergy
In addition to class time, class members should anticipate time out of class for various readings and assignments to prepare for a particular session day.
Selection Process
The Leadership Lawrence class includes about 35 individuals living and/or working in the Lawrence/Douglas County area. Candidates may be nominated by an organization or may nominate themselves. A Selection Committee of Leadership Lawrence graduates selects men and women from a cross-section of the community, representing diversity in occupation, age, ethnicity, culture and perspectives.
Commitment
An applicant’s willingness to invest the time required for active participation in the program is a requirement of selection. Eligibility for graduation from Leadership Lawrence is contingent upon attendance at all sessions.
Please contact Sue Hack or call 785-865-4421 to learn more about Leadership Lawrence.
Lawrence Kansas
The Chamber
Non-Profit Directory
The Chamber is proud of the fact that so many local non-profits engage with and invest in The Chamber. Our special pricing for our 501(c)3 members for membership and marketing oportunities allows these amazing organizations to reach the local business community, finding potential donors, board members and support.
This directory features non-profit members of The Chamber. If your business is interested in expanding your involvement with the Lawrence community, we hope you reference this list! If your organization doesn't appear on this list, we hope you consider joining The Chamber!
Animals
Lawrence Humane Society
1805 E. 19th St.
(785) 843-6835
lawrencehumane.org
The Arts
Lawrence Arts Center
940 New Hampshire St.
(785) 843-2787
lawrenceartscenter.org
Marla Quilts, Inc.
2001 Haskell Ave.
(785) 371-6682
marlaquiltsinc.com
Van Go, Inc.
715 New Jersey St.
(785) 842-3797
van-go.org
Children/Education
Ballard Center
708 Elm St.
(785) 842-0729
ballardcenter.org
Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence
2910 Haskell Ave.
(785) 841-5672
bgclk.org
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Douglas County
1009 New Hampshire St., Suite A & B
(785) 832-5172
www.dccasaks.org
Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas
2518 Ridge Court
(785) 865-0669
east.ks.childcareaware.org
Communities in Schools of Mid-America
1919 Delaware St.
(785) 865-5190
cismidamerica.org
Community Children's Center
901 Kentucky St., Ste. 202
(785) 260-8184
communitychildrenks.org
Heart of America Council, Boy Scouts
10210 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO
(816) 942-9333
hoac-bsa.org
Junior Achievement
(785)841-8245
kansasja.org
Kansas Action for Children
709 S. Kansas Ave., Ste. 200, Topeka, KS
(785) 232-0550
kac.org
Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters
2518 Ridge Court
(785) 843-7359
kansasbigs.org
Landen Lucas Foundation
4000 W. 6th St.
(503) 989-9930
landenlucasfoundation.org
Lawrence Children's Choir
(785) 331-4662
lawrewncechildrenschoir.org
Lawrence Public Library
707 Vermont St.
(785) 843-3833
lawrencepubliclibrary.org
Lawrence Schools Foundation
110 McDonald Dr.
(785) 330-1941
lawrenceschoolsfoundation.org
Peaslee Tech
2920 Haskell Ave., Ste. 100
(785) 856-1801
peasleetech.org
READ Lawrence
1900 Delaware St.
(785)424-0838
facebook.com/READLawrenceKS
The Children's Shelter
1925 Delaware St.
(785) 843-2085
theshelterinc.org
Foundations
Capitol Federal Foundation
700 Kansas Ave., Ste. 517, Topeka, KS
(785) 270-6040
capfed.com
Douglas County Community Foundation
900 Massachusetts St., Ste. 406
(785) 843-8727
dccfoundation.org
Haskell Foundation
155 Indian Ave., Box 5019
(785) 749-8425
haskellfoundation.org
Health
Alzheimer's Association - Heart of America Chapter
3846 W. 75th St., Prairie Village, KS
(913) 831-3888
alz.org/kansascity
Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center
200 Maine St., Ste. A
(785) 843-9192
bertnash.org
Community Blood Center of KC
4040 Main St., Kansas City, MO
(816) 968-4004
savealifenow.org
CV Key Project
cvkeyproject.org
Douglas County Visiting Nurses
200 Maine St., Ste. 150
(785) 843-3738
kansasvna.org
Heartland Community Health Center
346 Maine St., Ste. C
(785) 841-7297
heartlandhealth.org
Kansas Advocates for Better Care
536 Fireside Court, Ste. B
(785) 842-3088
kacb.org
Kansas Suicide Prevention HQ
2110 Delaware St., Ste. B
(785) 841-9900
headquarterscounselingcenter.org
Lawrence Douglas County Public Health
200 Maine St., Ste. B
(785) 843-3060
ldchealth.org
Midland Care Connection
319 Perry St.
(800) 726-7450
midlandcare.org
Trinity In-Home Care
2001 W. 25th St., Ste. Q
(785) 842-3159
tihc.org
Housing
Family Promise of Lawrence
905 Tennessee St.
(785) 856-1417
lawrencefamilypromise.org
Housing & Credit Counseling
2518 Ridge Court., Ste. 104
(785) 749-4224
hcci-ks.org
Lawrence Douglas County Housing Authority
1600 Haskell Ave.
(785) 842-8110
Lawrence Habitat for Humanity
720 Connecticut St.
(785) 832-0777
lawrencehabitat.org
Tenants to Homeowners
2518 Ridge Court, Ste. 103
(785) 842-5494
tenants-to-homeowners.org
Local Organizations
Lawrence Farmers Market
(785) 505-0117
lawrencefarmersmarket.org
Seniors
Community Village Lawrence
2001 Haskell Ave.
(785) 505-0187
communityvillagelawrence.org
Senior Resource Center of Douglas County
745 Vermont St.
(785) 842-0543
yoursrc.org
Support Services
American Red Cross
2518 Ridge Court
(785) 843-3550
redcross.org
Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas
1525 W. 6th St.
(785) 856-2694
catholiccharitiesks.org
Cottonwood, Inc.
2801 W. 31st. St.
(785) 842-0550
cwood.org
Douglas County CASA
1009 New Hampshire St.,
Ste. A & B
(785) 832-5172
dccasa.org
Douglas County ECKAN Center
2518 Ridge Court, Ste. 104
(785) 841-3357
Just Food
1000 E. 11th St.
(785) 856-7030
justfoodks.org
Lawrence Community Shelter
3655 E. 25th St.
(785) 832-8864
lawrenceshelter.org
The Salvation Army
946 New Hampshire St.
(785) 843-4188
lawrence.salvationarmy.us
United Way of Douglas County
1307 Massachusetts St.
(785) 843-6626
unitedwaydgco.org
Willow Domestic Violence Center
1920 Moodie Road
(785) 331-2034
willowdvcenter.org
Visit Us
718 New Hampshire St. Lawrence, KS 66044
Contact Info
info@lawrencechamber.com
(785) 865-4411
Join the Chamber