PLATTEVILLE — Southwest Wisconsin’s Community Leadership Alliance kicked off its 21st annual class Jan. 29 at the Iowa County Health and Human Services Building. Participants jumped into a Real Colors session with Grant County Extension’s James Schneider and University of Wisconsin-Platteville Continuing Education’s Kerie Wedige, as well as professional and community development exercises. The day was sponsored by Iowa County, with food provided by Quality Bakery in Dodgeville and Tequila Point in Mineral Point. 

The 29 leaders from across Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Counties will meet for an additional five days of training and networking sessions through 2020. The February class features training on emotional intelligence and team building at the Ropes Course in UW-Platteville’s Williams Fieldhouse. Future classes will meet at the Darlington American Legion, Southwest Tech in Fennimore, Blanchard Hall in Blanchardville and Dodgeville’s Folklore Village. 

The mission of CLA is to develop a base of informed and community-minded leaders. The six-month program is designed to build alliances that will unify communities throughout the region. Follow the Community Leadership Alliance of Southwest Wisconsin Facebook page for participant profiles and stories from upcoming classes. Participants are nominated by colleagues and employers. For more information on how to sponsor the program or nominate students for the 2021 class, visit claswwi.org.