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This winter, Roaring Fork Leadership (RFL) welcomed a full cohort of 14 women into the newly upgraded RFL Mastermind program—a milestone moment that reflects both the strength of the curriculum and the hunger for leadership spaces designed by and for women in our region. The Mastermind experience brings together women from across the Roaring Fork and Colorado River Valleys—Aspen to Rifle—representing public service, healthcare, education, hospitality, banking, design, housing, transportation, nonprofit leadership, and beyond. While their professional paths vary widely, what connects this group runs much deeper than job titles. Many Paths, One Shared Intention This cohort includes women who: Lead teams in city and county government Manage healthcare systems and emergency response Shape [...]

A new year often brings reflection: How do I want to grow as a leader? Where can I contribute my skills in a meaningful way? How can I stay connected to my community? At Roaring Fork Leadership, we believe leadership is not about titles - it’s about participation, service, and showing up with intention. As we begin the year ahead, we are inviting community members to consider joining RFL as a Board Director or Committee Member. Serving in a leadership role with RFL is an opportunity to help shape the future of leadership development across the Roaring Fork and Colorado River [...]

Susannah Lickus graduated from the Roaring Fork Leadership Academy in May 2025. Just months later, she made a bold decision to step away from her job, shoulder a backpack, and follow a deep inner calling - one that led her across the Colorado Trail and into the Himalayas of Nepal. We recently caught up with Susannah to reflect on her journey, her Academy experience, and what she’s carrying forward into this next chapter. What are you up to now? Where are you living, and what’s next? After graduating from RFL in May 2025, I left my role at English in Action [...]

Strong nonprofit boards are essential to healthy, resilient communities - and this winter, community members can find two upcoming events designed to support individuals who are curious about board service, governance, and nonprofit leadership. Whether you’re exploring board service for the first time, looking to strengthen your governance skills, or interested in connecting with local nonprofits seeking new board members, these free community events offer accessible entry points into nonprofit leadership. Nonprofit Board Training Thursday, January 29 | 6:00–8:00 pm Glenwood Springs Branch Library This free training is open to anyone in the community who wants to learn more about what [...]

Because of this community’s generosity, Roaring Fork Leadership raised nearly $6,000 during this year’s Colorado Gives Day giving season. Every gift - large and small - directly supports leadership development, scholarship access, and the continued strength of our region’s nonprofit, business, and civic sectors. We are deeply grateful to everyone who gave, shared our campaign, or started a new recurring gift. Your belief in accessible leadership development makes a tangible difference for individuals and organizations across the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys. Your support matters now more than ever. Twenty-five percent of our Academy 2026 participants are receiving scholarship support, [...]

At Roaring Fork Leadership, we believe that powerful things happen when people step forward with courage, compassion, and a commitment to community. That belief sits at the heart of everything we do, and Colorado Gives Day is your opportunity to ensure leadership development remains accessible to the people who make our region stronger. Colorado Gives Day is Tuesday, December 9, and early giving is already open. Early gifts unlock various matching funds made possible through the Colorado Gives Foundation, meaning your generosity can go even further. This year, we are once again participating in the recurring gift match: all new monthly [...]

Each year, RFL Academy participants step into real-world leadership learning through Civic Impact Projects - hands-on initiatives that strengthen our region while challenging participants to apply adaptive leadership, collaboration, and community-centered problem solving. With 34 participants divided into five teams, the Academy 2026 cohort selected their projects in October and has already begun working alongside local partners. This year’s four projects reflect some of the community’s most pressing challenges and opportunities: nonprofit collaboration, youth development, organizational sustainability, and support for children in crisis. Beyond Silos: Strengthening Nonprofit Collaboration for Greater Community Belonging Teams 1 & 3 With an estimated 300–600 nonprofits [...]

Roaring Fork Leadership is hitting the greens this fall - and we want you with us! On Friday, October 10, 2025, we’re hosting our first-ever Golf Tournament at the stunning Lakota Links in New Castle. This isn’t just a day of golf - it’s a day to connect, compete, and celebrate the power of leadership in our valley. Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or just looking for an excuse to spend a Friday outdoors, this event is the perfect way to support RFL while enjoying the camaraderie of our community. Plus, your participation helps fuel scholarships, programs, and events that strengthen [...]

This past weekend, on September 5th and 6th, Roaring Fork Leadership launched its 38th Academy class at Aspen Camp for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. We are thrilled to welcome 35 participants from across the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys and from a wide range of industries and sectors - leaders who bring with them unique perspectives, passions, and commitments to strengthening our communities. The Academy opening retreat has long been a cornerstone of the program, setting the stage for the year ahead. Participants carpooled in together early Friday morning, beginning to build bonds by sharing what brought them [...]

By Andrea Palm-Porter, RFL Executive Director On Friday, August 22nd, I had the opportunity to attend the Colorado Civic Collaboratory gathering at the Iliff School of Theology, thanks to the warm hosting of Dr. Jeni Rinner and for Civic Canopy for creating the collaboratory. Twenty-five civic innovators came together to explore stories of upheaval—personal, collective, and civic—and to lean into the kind of meaningful dialogue that strengthens our communities. What made this convening unique wasn’t just the agenda, but the spirit of connection. This wasn’t “just another meeting.” Instead, it was a space where we built relationships, moved below the surface [...]