Leadership Upper Valley Seeks Class of 2027
Leadership Upper Valley (LUV), a 10-month program that equips and motivates people to give back to their communities, is recruiting its…
Explore the Upper Valley’s possibilities and challenges — and how you can make a difference in our region — through Leadership Upper Valley!
Leadership Upper Valley brings together motivated Upper Valley residents for 10 monthly sessions, September through June, to experience and network about diverse aspects of life in our region, including Health & Human Services, Education, Arts, Economy, Justice, Government and Politics, Transportation and Livable Communities, and the Environment.
Participants gain knowledge of Upper Valley issues, opportunities, people, and trends, an expanded network of community leaders and partners, and motivation and experience to provide service within the Upper Valley community.
“For years, I have been focused on my family, my friends, and the issues we have … As it turns out, these are the same issues everyone is faced with, LUV made me realize I just wasn’t thinking about them on a ‘community’ level. … Now that I have a much deeper understanding of the problems our communities face, my big takeaway from LUV is, I can do more. I should contribute more to my community because I am a part of it.”
~ Garrett Sargent, Randolph, LUV Class of 2024
“Leadership Upper Valley has helped me develop my voice, community contacts, and a whole toolbox of knowledge and context to engage with the Upper Valley on a deeper and more personal level.”
Kathryn Svec, Cavendish, VT, LUV Class of 2024

Alysse Lizotte
Anna White
Anna Hubbard
Ashley Manning
Bailey Burcham
Blake Harvey
Cara Baskin
Celeste Pfeiffer
Charles Peoples III
Elizabeth Wilson
Gikanh Timberwolf
Gwen Williams
Hannah Jeffery
Jackie Susmann
Jacopo Montobbio
Jennifer Sargent
John Leighton
Joslyn Meier
Katherine Hurst
Katherine McCarthy
Katie Kitchel
Keely Marie
Kristen Clark
Leanne Tapley
Lucas Streeter
Lynsey Lacourse
Mary Hazen
Nicole Follensbee
Leadership Upper Valley (LUV), a 10-month program that equips and motivates people to give back to their communities, is recruiting its…
What do the concepts of justice and human/constitutional rights mean in the current political climate and in reality, on the ground in communities…
The January session of Leadership Upper Valley (LUV) is the halfway point for this year-long program immersing people in the…
What’s a crime? What’s proof of someone having committed one? How should society and government treat those who are convicted…
Each year, the Leadership Upper Valley program takes a new cohort through 10 monthly sessions exploring aspects of our region…
Katie Price leads an exercise. On October 8, this year’s Leadership Upper Valley spent a day considering K-12 education in…
At Ohana Camp above Lake Fairlee, Opening Day for Leadership Upper Valley 2026 began in fog that descended through the…
On May 14, the JAM podcast studio was the arena for freewheeling reflection by the current class of Leadership Upper…
Leadership Upper Valley is recruiting its 2026 Class! Learn more and apply at Leadership Upper Valley! By Ellen Hender, Vital…
Applications are being accepted now! Applications are open for Leadership Upper Valley (LUV), a Vital Communities program which since 2007…
By Ellen Hender, Vital Communities Program Manager, Housing and Transportation This past Sunday afternoon at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in…
What goes on in Leadership Upper Valley sessions? LUV Manager John Drew sent us this report! October’s Leadership Upper Valley…
Since 2007, Vital Communities’ Leadership Upper Valley (LUV) program has offered people of all ages and backgrounds a chance to…
The Alums Network of Leadership Upper Valley is bringing together graduates from classes who want to connect (and reconnect), form…
Since Leadership Upper Valley began in 2006, a total of 400+ people have gone through the program. Over the course…
Photos by Rob Strong Congratulations to the 27 new graduates of Leadership Upper Valley! On June 12, participants in the…
Having greater impact in your community can start by learning what makes it tick. LUV Class at JAM in 2022.…
Leadership Upper Valley 2024’s Opening Day Twenty-seven new participants in Leadership Upper Valley gathered at the beautiful Ohana Family Camp…
On June 14 at VINS, Leadership Upper Valley ended the 22-23 program with a day of discussion, laughter, plans for…
Leadership Upper Valley, which since 2007 has helped hundreds of Upper Valley residents acquire greater impact and confidence as community…
What do participants explore and experience in the 10 monthly sessions of Leadership Upper Valley? This second installment of a yearlong…
What do participants explore and experience in the 10 monthly sessions of Leadership Upper Valley? This first installment of a…
Leadership Upper Valley graduation in Quechee, VT, on Wednesday, June 8, 2022. Copyright 2022 Rob Strong (L-R) Leon Dunkley and…
In the 17 years Kim Gibbs has lived in North Hartland, Vermont, she has become increasingly concerned about Route 5…
From small businesses and large, health care, municipal government, a church, and many other corners of the Upper Valley, 24…
The following speech was delivered by Monique Priestley, Chair, Vital Communities Board of Directors, at the Leadership Upper Valley Graduation…
Vital Communities will honor a dozen Upper Valley mentors at its 2016 celebration on May 19. The annual event, now…
Vital Communities will honor 10 “Upper Valley Visionaries” at its 2015 Heroes & Leaders celebration. The annual celebration recognizes significant…
Vital Communities will honor 14 women leaders whose work has significantly contributed to the Upper Valley at its 2014 Heroes…
Free Town Hall Discussion about the challenges veterans face coming home and the opportunities available to them in the Upper…
BIPOC Community Navigator (she/her)
Miranda Dupre (Courtesy photograph) Miranda joined Vital Communities as BIPOC Community Navigator in June 2024. A native of New Orleans,…
Special Projects Manager; Leadership Upper Valley Co-Manager (she/her)
Gabrielle joined Vital Communities in 2021. Gabrielle’s experience is centered around serving communities to become stronger and more civically vibrant.…
Thanks to these partners that support Leadership Upper Valley, and thanks as well to all that support the full range of programs at Vital Communities!




