January 2027- June 2027

The Community Leadership Institute is the core program of our organization. This program is presented once each year, from January to June. Participants are exposed to community leaders invited to discuss such topics as healthcare, diversity, the environment, the Cape Cod economy, the legal system, the arts, Cape Cod government, and education. Participants will also complete a community service project before a commencement ceremony.

You’re Invited to Join the Community Leadership Institute!

Leadership Cape Cod, focusing on its mission to inspire and develop the next generation of leaders for the Cape Cod region, is excited to announce that it is now accepting applications for the Community Leadership Institute Class of 2026. Founded in 1992, the Community Leadership Institute (CLI) engages, inspires, and develops leaders through an interactive program that brings together current and future leaders to learn from one another while discussing the issues, challenges, and opportunities within our region. Participants will gain access to prominent local leaders working to solve Cape Cod’s most pressing challenges. The program features twelve biweekly sessions from January to June, concluding with a commencement ceremony. Program sessions focus on a range of sectors, including but not limited to the economy, environment, healthcare, social services, government, civic engagement, education, and infrastructure, providing participants with an inside look at the region and a better understanding of the leadership approaches taken to navigate a variety of local challenges.

The deadline to submit your application for the Class of 2027 is close of business on Friday, December 4th, 2026.

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Our program dives deep into issues facing the Cape. Speakers come from diverse backgrounds including healthcare, environmental protection, Cape economy, and education.

A long-lasting aspect of the Leadership program is the development of networking skills and expansion of existing contacts. Graduates can network with each other, participating Community Leaders, and CLI alumni to facilitate better understanding and resolution of community problems on Cape Cod and the Islands.

In addition to the classroom element of the Leadership program, classes are divided into smaller project teams. Each group, functioning as a team, must identify, develop, and complete a Community Oriented Project. The project should be ‘community’ in nature, and have as its goal to improve the community in some fashion. A requirement of graduation is the final team presentation of their project process and project completion.

 

“The program forced me out of my regular networking bubble to discover a great group of like-minded professionals throughout the Cape who shared an interest in the betterment of their community. A rewarding experience!”

Tuition

The cost to attend is $795.00.

Applications for consideration for the Class of 2027 will close by Friday, December 4th, 2026.

In addition to the tuition and funds raised from the community, employers of the class participants contribute the time required away from work to complete the Leadership Cape Cod Program. This is recognized as a considerable investment in the community by responsible Cape Cod businesses and agencies.

Schedule

The 2027 program is currently being finalized but the most up to date curriculum is below (details may change prior to December 2026)!

The program will begin with an Orientation on January 6th, 2027. The first class, focusing on community leadership, will meet on January 7th, 2027. The program meets every other Thursday from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM (with the exception of the Government session on March 18th, which is a full-day session). The 2027 full schedule is as follows:

January 6, 2027 – Orientation

January 7, 2027 – Community Leadership

January 21, 2027 – Civic Engagement

February 4, 2027 – Healthcare

February 18, 2027 – Economic Development

March 4, 2027 – Education

March 18, 2027 – Government (Full Day Session)

April 1, 2027 – Social Services

April 15, 2027 – Media

April 29, 2027 – Criminal Justice

May 13, 2027 – The Arts

May 27, 2027 – Environment

June 1o, 2027 – TBD

June 24, 2027 – Commencement