2024-2025 Leadership Eugene-Springfield Cohort Wraps With Projects and Poetry

In late May, 29 graduates from the Leadership Eugene-Springfield program were congratulated and celebrated by city leaders, Chambers of Commerce staff, peers, and community members for their accomplishments over the past 8 months.

The ceremony welcomed friends and family of the LES participants, along with Chamber staff, Springfield Mayor Sean VanGordon, and Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson. Both mayors delivered remarks celebrating the cohort’s achievements and commitment to public service, emphasizing that when community members choose to further their education in service to others, the effort does not go unnoticed.

A highlight of the evening included the reading of A Call to Leaders, an original poem by graduating LES participant, Wynter Eddins, Founder of Simply Youth Institute. Eddins delivered her piece with the poise of a practiced spoken word artist, calling out each individual graduate in the poem with praise, and there were more than a few teary eyes among the audience following.

Team projects
Thank you to Hayley Radich, LES Steering Committee member and class project liaison for writing the following descriptions of the 2024-2025 team projects.

The 2024–25 Leadership Eugene-Springfield cohort divided into four groups to address key community challenges they felt passionate about—ranging from economic development and healthcare to family resources. Over the course of eight months, each group collaborated closely, engaging with local organizations to identify needs and deliver impactful projects that aim to create lasting positive change. Below is a recap of each project:

The Medical Pantry
Turning surplus into support—one bandage at a time.
Driven by a shared passion for healthcare, this group discovered that millions of dollars’ worth of unused medical supplies are discarded annually due to expiration dates. Although deemed expired, many items remain sterile, functional, and safe to use—yet they were ending up in landfills. At the same time, local nonprofits lacked access to essential supplies.

To bridge this gap, the team established The Medical Pantry. They partnered with organizations such as PeaceHealth, BestMed, McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center, 2 Rivers Surgical, Harrisburg Fire Department, and New Leaf Hyperbarics to collect surplus items. These supplies—including wound care products, masks, gloves, sanitizer, medications, testing kits, IV equipment, and sutures—were donated to Occupy Medical, a nonprofit that offers free medical care to anyone in need.

The result: thousands of pounds of critical medical supplies were diverted from waste and redirected to those who need them most. The group also helped establish a lasting connection between donors and Occupy Medical to ensure continued support.

Career Technical Training
Promoting skilled trades to build a stronger future.

Recognizing the vital role that skilled trades play in economic stability and community sustainability, this group focused on increasing awareness and access to careers in trades such as plumbing, carpentry, electrical work, and welding. In collaboration with Lane Education Service District (Lane ESD), the team supported the Youth Trades Academy, a 12-day summer camp that provides high school students with hands-on experience in the trades. They developed compelling promotional materials and worked with high schools across Lane County to recruit participants.

By spotlighting these career paths and encouraging early exposure, the group aims to inspire the next generation of trades professionals and strengthen the local workforce.

Family Resources
Understanding and removing barriers to community participation.

This group began with a fundamental question: What prevents families in our community from engaging in local activities? To find answers, they created and distributed a bilingual survey (English and Spanish) across the community.

Survey responses revealed several key barriers: scheduling conflicts, transportation issues, financial strain, and more. The group synthesized the data alongside insights from the ALICE Report (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) to produce a comprehensive report, which they shared with community stakeholders including Willamalane Parks & Recreation District, United Way of Lane County, Arc of Lane County, school districts, Relief Nursery, and others.

Their report offered actionable suggestions to increase accessibility, such as:
• Collaborative planning across agencies
• Greater financial transparency and support
• Timely and inclusive communication
• Commitment to ongoing evaluation and reflection

Unlocking Year-Round Potential
Boosting off-season economic development through innovation.

With a focus on the event and service industry, this group explored how to stimulate economic activity during the off-season. They identified several challenges, including a lack of centralized communication, an over-reliance on word-of-mouth, and difficulties in scheduling around overlapping events.

To solve these issues, the team developed the concept for The 541—a local events app and website that will centralize event listings into a single, user-friendly platform. The tool will:
• Allow event organizers to upload and share event information
• Use AI to optimize scheduling for maximum attendance and minimal overlap
• Provide analytics to help organizers plan better events

While still in development, “The 541” promises to be a transformative tool for both community members and event organizers. To learn more or get involved, email whatsthe541@gmail.com.

Congratulations to the 2024-2025 Cohort of Leadership Eugene-Springfield.
Learn more about the individuals in the 2024-2025 LES Cohort here.

For those interested in joining the 2025-2026 Cohort, applications are open now through Thursday, July 31. Learn more and apply here!

About Leadership Eugene-Springfield
Since 1986, the Eugene and Springfield Chambers of Commerce have promoted and fostered the development of civic leadership in our communities. The purpose of Leadership Eugene-Springfield is reflected in its goal to create knowledgeable, networked, skilled, involved and passionate leaders who will:

• Advocate for and represent the community as whole.
• Value the interaction of government, business and charitable institutions in creating a healthy Eugene/Springfield economy.
• Be involved in creating a positive future for their community.