LEE is a nonpartisan network supporting leaders at every stage of life and career. At LEE, you lead your community. We provide the tools to help you grow.
We offer one-on-one coaching, peer connections, and skill-building experiences to help you grow and expand opportunity in your community. We are a nonpartisan network supporting leaders like you to engage civically and expand access and opportunity where you live and work. Our support includes:
✔️One-on-one coaching
✔️Peer connections with fellow leaders
✔️Skill-building and leadership developmen
06/04/2026
Thinking about running for office but unsure where to begin?
Most future candidates are not lacking passion.
They are lacking a roadmap.
Comment “CHECKLIST” and we will DM you the 10-Day Candidate Readiness Checklist.
Start moving from interest to action with greater clarity and confidence.
06/04/2026
Many people who want to drive community change do not lack passion.
They lack the clarity and framework to explain their "why".
Your unique experiences matter. Your story can make a difference.
That is why we are hosting Storytelling: Your Story, Your Power, a 75-minute live online session designed to help you turn your personal journey into a clear, confident message.
During this session, you will gain:
The Formula: Learn a simple framework to share your story anywhere.
The Clarity: Align your core personal values with your leadership goals.
The Connection: Build the confidence to speak up in any community room.
You will also hear insights from local changemakers who are leading with authenticity and purpose.
Whether you want to prepare for a community meeting or inspire your neighbors, you belong in this room.
Sign up today and join the conversation.
https://engage.wearelee.org/upYp3
One of the most powerful things a leader can do is help others see themselves clearly.
Carmita Semaan, Founder and CEO of The Surge Institute, describes this as one of her superpowers.
She acts as a mirror.
Not to tell people who they should be, but to reflect back what she already sees in them.
In this episode of The Leaders’ Table, Carmita talks about why self-clarity is essential for leadership.
When people can see their own strengths, their own potential, and their own path, everything shifts.
Especially for young leaders.
No one else gets to define your future.
No one else gets to decide what you are capable of.
Leadership starts when you claim that for yourself.
If you are building your path or helping others build theirs, this conversation will stay with you.
Hear more from Carmita Semaan on The Leaders’ Table podcast.
https://engage.wearelee.org/upNfL
What does a community need most right now?
For Maria Perez-Hodges, the answer is connection.
She shared that many of the challenges we see today come from people feeling disconnected.
When that happens, it is easy to go into survival mode.
It becomes harder to trust, to reach out, or to feel like you belong.
But connection can change that.
When people take the time to reach out and build relationships, something shifts.
There is more understanding.
Less blame.
More space to move forward together.
For Maria, community starts with finding ways to connect and staying committed to each other.
If you are a LEE member, log in to connect with others building stronger communities through relationships.
https://engage.wearelee.org/upNfw
Big ideas can start with one voice.
Last year’s Change Challenge winners showed what is possible when young leaders share their vision for creating stronger, healthier, and more connected communities.
Now it is your turn.
The Change Challenge is back and we are inviting LEE members to apply for a chance to receive one of 20 scholarships worth $2,000 each.
LEE members will share a bold idea for improving their community through a creative submission:
A 3-minute video
A 5-slide presentation with voiceover
A 2-page visual guide with voiceover
We are looking for ideas rooted in lived experience, creativity, leadership, and community impact.
Watch this video to hear from past winners and see how their ideas turned into action.
LEE members apply now for your chance to receive a $2,000 scholarship.
https://engage.wearelee.org/upbes
Not every great opportunity is the right opportunity.
Carmita Semaan, Founder and CEO of Surge Institute, shares a perspective that many leaders learn the hard way.
Just because something looks like the next big step does not mean it is aligned with who you are.
In this episode of The Leaders’ Table, Carmita talks about how she evaluates career decisions through the lens of values and identity.
A national role may look exciting.
A leadership title may feel like progress.
But if it is not aligned, it will not sustain you.
She challenges leaders to slow down and ask better questions.
Does this role reflect who I am?
Will I be able to lead in a way that is true to my values?
What am I not seeing beneath the surface?
Strong leadership is not about saying yes to every opportunity.
It is about choosing the right ones.
If you are facing a career decision right now, this conversation will shift how you think about your next move.
Hear more from Carmita Semaan on The Leaders’ Table podcast:
https://engage.wearelee.org/upbeJ
What does leadership really look like?
For Roshana Agarrat, it starts with being willing to step outside your comfort zone.
She shared that leadership is about creating movement.
Not just for yourself, but for the people coming behind you.
In her work with youth who have experienced homelessness, she sees this every day.
Young people are speaking up about their experiences.
They are facing their fears.
They are sharing their stories so others do not have to go through the same thing.
That takes courage.
And it creates real change in the community.
Leadership is not about having all the answers.
It is about being willing to step forward and make a path for others.
If you are a LEE member, log in and connect with others who are creating change by lifting up the voices of their communities:
https://engage.wearelee.org/upbeh
05/20/2026
"Public service is an orientation towards trying to make the world better than you found it." -Andy Rotherham
In leadership, it is easy to get caught up in titles or systems.
But true public service is a mindset like Andy shares.
It is about the quiet, consistent decision to show up for your neighbors.
Whether you are leading a community meeting or exploring a local board, your work is rooted in that simple goal: leaving things better than you found them.
You don't need a formal position to have this orientation.
You just need the commitment to act where you are.
What does "making the world better" look like in your community today?
Pause. Reflect. Then share your moment below.
Listen to Andy's episode now: https://engage.wearelee.org/uo1dL
What are you most proud of?
For Ms. O, it comes down to how she shows up for young people.
She shared that she takes pride in using what she has.
Her platform.
Her perspective.
Her relationships.
All of it is used to open doors for kids.
She focuses on giving them access to experiences they might not otherwise have.
Helping them see new possibilities.
Helping them see themselves differently.
Through conversations and support, she wants young people to understand their own power.
Because when that shift happens, everything changes.
More options.
More confidence.
More belief in what is possible.
If you are a LEE member, log in and connect with others who are creating opportunities for the next generation:
https://engage.wearelee.org/uo1dJ
05/15/2026
Day 2 at Courageous Leadership 2026 brought depth, honesty, and powerful conversations.
Throughout the day, leaders spent time talking about the challenges they are navigating, the communities they serve, and what it takes to sustain yourself while leading others.
Some of the most meaningful moments happened in between sessions. In coaching circles, hallway conversations, shared stories, and moments of reflection.
That is the heart of this experience.
Grateful for every leader who continues to show up for this work and for one another.
Bridge Divides. Boost Your Leadership. Build What’s Next.
Continue your community connection: https://engage.wearelee.org/uo5SA
