2025 Session Begins in August

Community Development Works is recruiting participants and nonprofit partners for the 2025 session of Cenla Boardbuilders, a program aimed at developing leaders for service on boards of local nonprofit organizations. The deadline to apply is July 28.

The free program is open to professionals identified by their employers as emerging leaders with a desire to become involved in their community, to nonprofit board members wanting an orientation to their new role on a board, and to individuals looking for higher-level volunteer opportunities. Interested nonprofit board members must be from a nonprofit with an actively engaged board with a working committee structure.

The program runs August through October and consists of a series of sessions about the roles and responsibilities of being an effective board member. A graduation ceremony is scheduled for November 14.

Participants choose between two learning tracks: Track I is for newly seated board members with limited service experience who are only seeking training; Track II is for individuals with no previous board service who are seeking training in preparation for nonprofit board service and help to connect with local nonprofits.

A virtual orientation is scheduled for Friday, August 15. The remaining sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Fridays in The Rapides Foundation Building, 1101 Fourth Street, Alexandria. Session dates are August 12, September 12, September 26 and October 10.

The program also includes a September networking lunch and a recruitment session in October that give participants and nonprofit leaders a chance to connect. These networking opportunities allow participants to learn about different organizations that meet their interests, and it gives nonprofits the chance to recruit new, energetic board members.

Local employers are encouraged to sponsor their emerging professionals for participation in the program, allowing for a meaningful professional development opportunity for the employee and community development opportunity for the organization.

To learn more about joining the 2025 program either as a participant, nonprofit partner or employer partner, visit www.communitydevelopmentworks.org/boardbuilders or call CDW at (318) 767-3013. Community Development Works is a program of The Rapides Foundation.