Come Together: RFL Unite 2026 Celebrates Leadership, Belonging & Community

On May 15, community leaders, alumni, graduates, supporters, and friends gathered at Aspen Camp for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for Roaring Fork Leadership’s annual Unite celebration, an evening rooted in one powerful idea: Come Together.

This year’s event centered on the belief that stronger communities are built when people intentionally choose connection, trust, belonging, and leadership across differences.

The evening brought together graduates from the RFL Academy and Mastermind programs alongside alumni, board members, facilitators, advisors, sponsors, and community partners from across the Roaring Fork and Colorado River Valleys. More than a graduation celebration, Unite served as a reminder that leadership is ultimately about people and the relationships that strengthen communities over time.

Hosted in the welcoming and inspiring setting of Aspen Camp, the evening opened with connection and conversation as guests reconnected with familiar faces, met new leaders, and reflected on the impact leadership development continues to have throughout the region.

Executive Director Andrea Palm-Porter welcomed attendees by sharing why the theme “Come Together” matters now more than ever. She emphasized that leadership begins with connection and that RFL exists to bring people together across sectors, experiences, and perspectives to strengthen community and belonging.

Throughout the evening, speakers shared authentic reflections about leadership, growth, confidence, and human connection.

Carlton Henry, Academy 2026 graduate, spoke about the importance of “Connection Before Content,” reminding attendees that meaningful leadership begins with relationships, listening, trust, and curiosity before influence or problem-solving can occur. His reflections reinforced the idea that people must first feel connected before they can truly work together.
Elsy Patino, Mastermind 2026, shared how the Mastermind program helped her find greater confidence, clarity of purpose, and strength in her voice as a leader. She reflected on the power of encouragement, community, and support; and the ripple effect leadership development can create when people are empowered to step fully into their potential.
Andrea Palm-Porter also challenged attendees to think deeply about belonging and bridge-building within communities. Referencing the reality that only about half of Coloradans report feeling a true sense of belonging, she invited the audience to consider what leadership looks like when it intentionally creates spaces where people feel seen, valued, heard, and connected.
Board Chair Carolyn Tucker spoke about the importance of continuing leadership engagement beyond graduation and introduced RFL’s new Facilitator Program, an opportunity for alumni and community leaders to continue investing in future leaders across the region. She also welcomed Paige Wildermuth and Sandi Centofante to the RFL team and highlighted the importance of helping others feel a sense of belonging within the organization and region.

One of the most meaningful moments of the evening was the recognition ceremony honoring graduates from both the Academy and Mastermind programs. Graduates were celebrated not only for completing a leadership experience, but for the ways they are already creating impact within workplaces, organizations, teams, and communities throughout the valley.

As the formal program concluded, attendees continued conversations late into the evening; exchanging ideas, reconnecting with peers, celebrating accomplishments, and strengthening relationships that extend far beyond a single event.

Unite 2026 was a powerful reminder that leadership is not simply about titles or positions. It is about how we show up for one another, how we bridge differences, and how we intentionally create communities where people feel connected and valued.

Because the future of our communities depends on leaders willing to come together.