Leadership Alamance: A Journey Begins at Camp Caraway
Thirty-three committed leaders. Two days at Camp Caraway. One shared goal: to better understand themselves, their community and what it means to lead. The 2027 Leadership Alamance class officially began its nine-month journey last Thursday and Friday with an opening retreat designed to challenge perspectives, build connections and lay the foundation for the months ahead.
Starting with Curiosity
The retreat began with a design thinking workshop led by Danielle Lake, Director of Design Thinking at Elon University. Through the workshop, leaders were encouraged to approach challenges with curiosity, consider different perspectives, and think creatively about the ways they can contribute to their communities.
That spirit of curiosity continued through a Healthy Community exercise led by Sara Beth Hardy, Director of Community Partnerships at Elon. Leaders were asked to consider statements about the current state of our community and determine whether they agreed, disagreed, or remained neutral. The exercise created space for conversation, reflection and — perhaps most importantly — an opportunity to recognize that a community can look very different depending on where you stand within it.
Getting Personal
After lunch, the cohort shifted from discussing the community around them to sharing the experiences that shaped them. Each leader had 90 seconds to tell the story of their life — the people, experiences and moments that helped shape the person standing in front of the class. It was a simple exercise with a meaningful takeaway: leadership doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Every person brings a unique collection of experiences, perspectives and values to the table.
The afternoon continued with Tracey Grayzer, President of Impact Alamance, who led the cohort through an exploration of the interconnected systems that influence community well-being. Health care, education, housing, belonging, growth and local government may each seem like distinct areas, but the conversation highlighted just how closely they are connected — and how decisions in one area can have ripple effects across another.
Then, after a day full of big conversations, it was time to lighten things up. Pictionary, a campfire, and s’mores gave the cohort a chance to laugh, relax, and continue getting to know one another outside of the classroom.
Welcome to SIMSOC
Friday morning started with 33 refreshed and empowered leaders ready to take on another day of learning. That feeling lasted approximately until SIMSOC began.
SIMSOC challenged the cohort to operate a simulated society, manage resources and work together to uplift neighboring regions. As the exercise unfolded, leaders began navigating competing priorities, limited resources and the realities of trying to make decisions as a group. The experience quickly became more than a simulation. It became a lesson in effective communication, active listening, collaboration, problem-solving and the importance of understanding the bigger picture before jumping into action.
The Journey Ahead
By the end of the retreat, the 2027 Leadership Alamance class had already experienced meaningful conversations, vulnerable storytelling, new perspectives, plenty of laughter and a few simulated societal crises. More importantly, they left with the beginnings of a community of their own. Over the next nine months, these 33 leaders will continue exploring Alamance County, learning from community leaders, engaging with local issues and building relationships with one another and the community they serve.
We can’t wait to see where this class goes. #BestClassEver