Leadership Metro Richmond, Inc.

LMR plays a role in our region’s governance ecosystem and is the only organization focusing on racial equity in the nonprofit boardroom. Our Board Engagement Program includes activities that connect diverse adult residents and leaders interested in board service with nonprofits seeking board members. Activities for Board Engagement are free to participants. First, LMR holds a Board Connector event twice yearly to connect board seekers to agencies. These exhibit hall-type events are held at the Collaboratory and create the opportunity for in-person connections for engagement. In addition, LMR offers one-on-one board concierge services for individuals and nonprofits to create connections that could lead to new board members. Individuals and organizations contact LMR through the website, and staff works to match agency recruitment identity needs to individuals’ interests and expertise, and vice versa.

LMR provides targeted leadership development workshops in areas community leaders need to be effective in their roles. LMR presents workshop sessions on nonprofit governance and best practices to enhance and prepare nonprofit board leaders. In Spring 2023, LMR will present a series of four workshops on board essentials, succession planning, recruitment, and a purpose-driven board.

Leadership Metro Richmond partners with Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities to present Leading Conversations: Best Practices in Facilitation, an intensive three-session training that bolsters leaders’ facilitation skills and provides guidelines and techniques for engaging stakeholders constructively. The session helps participants navigate challenging conversations.   Participants are given the opportunity to put their skills into practice.

Alumni Connections are a series of opportunities for Leadership Quest alums, and often their guest, to connect with peers. LMR convenes diverse alums to participate in challenging conversations around issues of importance to our community. Alumni Connections activities create a safe space for dialogue that requires trust, invites vulnerability, and fosters relationships amongst community leaders. LMR increases alum knowledge of community assets by holding site visits at distinctive new locations in our region. Activities are held to create space for alums and community leaders to network and build relationships. Each year, LMR holds a Fall Reception and a Spring Luncheon and encourages past Quest classes to have mini-reunions.