John T. Vucurevich Foundation  
Emerging Leaders Program

“We talk about leadership in terms of an action one takes, not in terms of a position one holds. Leadership is about taking responsibility – both personal and social – for working with others on shared goals.” – Paul Schmitz

Each of us has the power to contribute to real systems change, an untangling of the programs, perspectives, and issues that create an environment that holds problems in place. The John T. Vucurevich Foundation Emerging Leaders program immerses Fellows in key issues facing our Rapid City community and the organizations dedicated to addressing them. In 2023 we welcome our 5th cohort. Our quarterly meetings immerse participants in what it means to become leaders who are poverty, trauma, and Lakota culture and history informed. Our Emerging Leaders are also tasked with participating in a learning lab this year. The purpose of a learning lab is not to accomplish a project, it’s more about the process of working as a team to learn about community partners already working on the issues at hand. By the end of the year, each lab will deliver a hypothetical project pitch to address their community issue.

This program empowers participants to discover their role in addressing community issues and build the lasting, cross-sector relationships needed for systems change. Our 2023 cohort is a diverse group of motivated individuals from all sectors including government, nonprofits, faith-based communities, businesses, and grass roots citizens who share the common goal of improving the quality of life in Rapid City.