Celebrating the Next Generation of Conservation Champions at NACD's 79th Annual Meeting

Recognizing the 2024 NGLI Cohort's Achievements

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) proudly recognized the 2024 Next Generation Leadership Institute (NGLI) cohort at the association’s 79th Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. This event marked a significant milestone for the cohort, as they graduated from the year-long program, and celebrated their dedication and achievements in advancing conservation leadership.

Empowering Future Conservation Leaders

The NGLI program, launched in 2019 as a program of the National Conservation Foundation, (NCF) aims to equip emerging conservation leaders with the skills and resources needed to address complex conservation challenges. Throughout the program participants engaged in various training sessions focused on advocacy, public policy, leadership development, media training, and building partnerships.

Barbara Bleiweis, a 2020 NGLI cohort graduate who now serves on the NCF Board of Trustees, says, “The NGLI helps prepare leadership skills and understanding on how to advance an issue and to do so in a way that gets funded and is sustainable. The confidence that we gain in our ability to do more within the conservation community is directly related to NGLI and their empowerment.” 

The 2024 cohort, consisting of six passionate individuals, demonstrated exceptional commitment to their personal, civic, and organizational leadership development. At the NACD Annual Meeting, they had the chance to share their experiences and insights with the incoming 2025 NGLI Cohort.

Kelli Bowen, a 2024 graduating cohort member from North Dakota, said, “I just appreciate NCF having the vision to have this program available, and I look forward to seeing how it evolves to help other conservationists who go through it in the future.”   

“NGLI has been an amazing opportunity for me to see a little bit deeper in how we live and what really drives our food choices and learning more about soils and networking with other great people to help us to really understand the impact that an individual can make on their community and their environment” expressed Excell La Fayette, Jr of Oklahoma.

Glenn Takai, a 2024 cohort from Guam, sums up his NGLI experience: “As I move forward, I'm going to carry the lessons that I've learned here, knowing that leadership is not about a title, but it's about making that impact. And I definitely intend to make that impact back in Guam.”

“NGLI provided skills and training that I just wouldn’t have found anywhere else. This program builds future leaders” says Kirk Daniel from Tennessee and a 2024 Cohort.

Graduating cohort Vincent Thompson encourages others to apply, stating, “I would tell you to immediately apply because the opportunities that I've had wouldn't have existed had I not applied. You may not recognize the possibilities that you hadn’t been looking for until you get into a cohort such as this, and just where those opportunities will take you.” 

As the 2024 NGLI cohort graduates, they will leave a lasting impact on the conservation community.