I was referred to Leadership Oakland by a board member of my organization and took advantage of the Cornerstone Program as soon as was possible, which was very early in my career and about a year into my tenure as Executive Director of the Hazel Park Promise Zone Authority. This particular board member recommended LO to me - and to the other board members for financial support of my participation - because he had witnessed the impact of the program on a colleague of his and felt that sending me would benefit both me and our organization. I was immediately interested, viewing the opportunity as an ideal way of learning more about the region I had recently become part of.

The Cornerstone Program was transformative for me from our very first session - our weekend retreat. Leading up to the retreat, I was excited to head back to Northern Michigan, not far from where I grew up, but I was unsure as to what the dynamic would be among my fellow LO participants. I wondered what we would have in common and whether I would truly connect with my classmates. The first night of that retreat, and one activity in particular, ended up setting the tone for my entire LO experience.

As the sun set on our first night in beautiful Roscommon, we formed our chairs into a circle under a large tent. From there, in the increasing darkness, we took turns answering one simple question: "what would we like to see for our county?" As I listened to the answers of strangers who would soon become friends, I quickly began to feel at ease - and at home. Their answers helped me begin to understand their values, and I quickly realized we had much in common. These people's knowledge, experiences, and goals were fascinating and inspiring, and I could not wait to learn more.

Two years after my completion of the LO Cornerstone program, I continue to reflect on the question posed during that nighttime activity and how my answer fits into my personal, professional, and public mission(s). In a separate Cornerstone session, we were able to dig deeply into determining what our personal missions were and how those missions shaped our lives. Additionally, the reflective time at the end of each Cornerstone session provided opportunity for thought and discussion around the question of, "so what?", forcing connection of the day's information to issues faced by the region and by each of us as individuals.

In addition to the tools for leadership development, the Cornerstone Program led to the development of important relationships. During and since the program, I have been honored to host LO classmates as speakers, fundraiser attendees, lunch dates, and wedding guests. We serve as each other's thought partners, peer-mentors, and supporters.

A full work day per month can seem like a major time commitment, but LO has been a worthwhile investment in countless ways. The ten month program provided consistent skill- and strategy-building mechanisms, and the continued opportunities for learning and collaboration through the Alumni Association have resulted in continued benefits long after completion of the program. Over the past year, my relatively young organization has been fortunate to receive several honors, and I attribute aspects of our success directly to what I learned through LO programming and through relationships with my LO classmates. To those who have not yet completed the Cornerstone Program, I ask: what are you waiting for? To those who have, I urge you to continue reflecting on that initial question: what would you like to see for your county, and how can you catalyze that change?