Elevate Academy 2025 Agenda

Theme: Building Power, Leading Change
Develop the skills, networks, and strategies needed to take action and expand your influence, whether in elected office, appointed boards, advocacy, or community leadership.

Fargo, ND | 🗓 October 17–19, 2025

Friday – Day 1: Grounding in Purpose

Set the stage for leadership growth, connections, and intentional action.

5:00 – 6:00 PM | Arrival & Alignment
Check in, grab your materials, and choose your track.

6:00 – 7:00 PM | Power in Connection Kickoff social with networking games and “Find Your Match” icebreaker.

7:00 – 7:45 PM | Dinner & Dialogue: Beyond the First Step
A fireside conversation with Elevate alumni on what it takes to step into leadership.

7:45 – 8:00 PM | Defining Your Leadership Compass
Participants choose one key value and one leadership goal to carry through the weekend.

Saturday – Day 2: Tools for the Work

Build the skills, networks, and strategies to lead and influence change.

8:00 – 8:30 AM | Morning Kickoff
Registration, track confirmation, and community breakfast.

8:30 – 9:00 AM | Mixer: Hopes & Fears Wall
Interactive reflection on what participants bring into the room and what they want to leave with.

9:00 – 9:45 AM | Plenary 1: Power & Possibility in North Dakota
Understanding today’s demographic, political, and community landscape and the leadership opportunities.

9:45 – 11:00 AM | Plenary 2: Paths to Power
Exploring leadership across elected office, appointed boards, and advocacy roles.

11:00 – 12:15 PM | Track Time #1

  • Running for Office: Campaigns 101 – From Calendar to Clarity

  • Advocacy & Activism: The Personal is Political – Finding Your Why

12:15 – 1:15 PM | Working Lunch: Guest Speaker

1:15 – 2:30 PM | Track Time #2

  • Running for Office: Building Your Team, Growing Your Movement

  • Advocacy & Activism: Story of Self – Turning Experience Into Action

2:45 – 4:00 PM | Track Time #3

  • Running for Office: Fundraising That Feels Authentic

  • Advocacy & Activism: One-on-One Organizing – Power in Conversation

4:00 – 5:30 PM | Plenary 3: Messaging That Moves People
Hands-on media and message labs with real-world practice.

7:00 PM | Evening Networking Adventure
Pub crawl, scavenger hunt, and casual relationship building.

Sunday – Day 3: Taking It Forward

Translate learning into action, commit to next steps, and step confidently into leadership pathways.

8:30 – 9:00 AM | Breakfast & Morning Reflection

9:00 – 11:00 AM | Track Time #4

  • Running for Office: Your Campaign Roadmap

  • Advocacy & Activism: Design Your Mini-Campaign for Change

11:00 – Noon | Plenary 4: Digital Power Moves
 Craft social media posts, graphics, and storytelling that amplify your story of self.

12:00 – 12:15 PM | Break

12:15 – 1:15 PM | Final Plenary: The Power We Hold, The Future We Build
Public commitments and a collective call to action.

1:15 – 2:00 PM | Closing Circle: Grounded, Grateful, Growing
Hopes & fears revisited, gratitude shared, and next steps named.

2:00 PM | Adjourn

Agenda is tentative and subject to change.