Lancaster, WI – Candace Auel, active Lancaster resident, was chosen by the board members of the Community Leadership Alliance to be the first recipient of grant monies allocated to CLA by the Lancaster Community Fund for scholarships for Lancaster residents to attend leadership classes in 2016 and 2017.  The grant was made possible by the Charles “Sonny” Tiedemann Charitable Fund.

The purpose of the leadership program is to expand the amount of volunteers serving on and leading committees, boards, planning teams and work groups in Grant, Lafayette, and Iowa counties.  “This program is designed to help community members find their voice.” said CLA coordinator, Kristin Holman-Steffel.  “Within the past 16 years, people of Lancaster and the surrounding communities of Grant County have made up nearly half of our participants.  People who work and live in Lancaster have gained skills to access and provide for the needs of this community.  They have discovered where there are opportunities for meaningful involvement and leadership.  Lancaster CLA alumni have been a more valuable resource to their employers, their community and to Southwest Wisconsin.”  

Community Leadership Alliance meets the last Wednesday of each month (January through June) at various sites in Southwestern Wisconsin.  Specific locations vary in an attempt to expose participants to a variety of places within the region.  CLA sessions feature speakers and curriculum to address a variety of topics.  The CLA program is open to any person in the tri county area who would like to further develop their leadership skills.  If you would like more information about participation in 2017, please contact Kristin at swwi.cla@gmail.com or 608-778-1807.