by President & CEO, Kris Valerio Shock

"The promise of spring's arrival is enough to get anyone through the bitter winter."

-Jen Selinsky

“The beautiful spring came, and when nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also.”

- Harriet Ann Jacobs

Who couldn’t use a few optimistic springtime quotes?

As Colin Powell stated: “Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.”

No matter the challenges we face – global, local and everything in between – it is the responsibility of community leaders to inspire optimism.

Feeling a quart low on your optimism?

This article explains why leaders who actively choose an optimistic approach are much more likely to lead adaptive, successful and innovative organizations and practical things you can do to help increase your optimism.

Another practical approach to increasing your optimism, is surrounding yourself with leaders who positively impact our community. That’s where LAA can help.

Emerging from a long cold winter, we look forward to a whole new season of opportunity. Flagship and Neighborhood Leadership Academy relationships planted in fall and winter months will blossom into lifelong connections.

We invite the LAA community at large to join the Flagship class in their Environment Day exploration with a Flagship Talk on Hope and Resilience for the Chesapeake Bay led by Kate Fritz, CEO, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay on Wednesday, April 20^th at Homestead Gardens.

And we look forward to celebrating a robust roster of New Leader Honorees together at the 2022 New Leaders Celebration Breakfast at Carroll’s Creek Café on April 27^th.  (Stay tuned for an announcement featuring the 2022 Honorees!)

“An optimist is the human personification of spring.”

-Susan J. Bissonette

I hope you’ll join the LAA community as we welcome the new season, together!