Ely for Ely Kicks Off Community Leadership Track

On January 13, Ely for Ely, a program of Boundary Waters Connect (BWC), hosted 42 participants at the Ely Folk School for the first of three workshops focused on growing and supporting leaders in the Ely area. This first track is part of a year-long community development initiative facilitated by BWC and the Department for Community Development of University of Minnesota Extension. Workshop attendees represented nonprofits, businesses, and community volunteers.

Led by Lacey Squier, BWC Manager, this workshop focused on eliciting input from the participants regarding what aspects of leadership are most important to them or their organization. The goal of this process is to seek community participation to guide BWC and the Ely for Ely planning committee toward identifying a single directive for how to address our community’s leadership needs. Lacey suggested, “Simply being involved” makes each of us a leader in the Ely community. 

Participants completed leadership self-evaluations, then shared their thoughts and ideas in small groups as well as the full group discussion. The issues of interest the group identified include: how to facilitate greater community involvement in organizations, how to cultivate new leadership, leadership skills development, and leadership fatigue. Statistics gathered from the region show an overwhelming need for more leaders in rural communities such as Ely. A question emerged, ‘How can we work smarter, and not harder?’

BWC and the Department for Community Development began their collaboration in November 2025 with a half-day Ely for Ely workshop at the Grand Ely Lodge. Attended by over 100 community leaders, the workshop educators introduced topics important to the future of Ely businesses and nonprofits, including leadership, wealth transfer, and business succession.   

The leadership track kicks off this year-long initiative which will culminate with the annual BWC Ely for Ely half-day workshop in November 2026. Community members are encouraged to attend the Ely for Ely Tuesday morning gatherings at any time during the year. Go to: www.boundarywatersconnect.org/elyforely for detailed information.

 The next session, on Tuesday, February 10 at the Ely Folk School from 7:30 – 10:00AM, will be facilitated by leadership educator, Craig Campbell, of UMN Extension.