Western Illinois Leadership Academy builds regional leaders, opens registration for next class

 

QUINCY, Ill. — Strong communities depend on strong leaders—people who understand local challenges, build relationships across boundaries, and work together to move the region forward. That belief is at the heart of the Western Illinois Leadership Academy (WILA), and registration is now open for the next class.

 

Originally launched in 1996 through a partnership between Rural Adams Development Corporation, Great River Economic Development Foundation, and University of Illinois Extension, WILA was created to strengthen leadership capacity and encourage collaboration across rural western Illinois communities. From the beginning, organizers recognized that communities could accomplish more by working together than by working alone.

 

After several years on pause, WILA returned with renewed purpose, reaffirming the importance of developing local leadership and rebuilding regional connections. When the program paused, communities felt the gap—not only in professional development opportunities, but in the relationships and shared understanding that help leaders address common challenges.

 

The most recent WILA cohort brought participants together for six day?long sessions held across Adams, Brown, Hancock, Pike, and Schuyler counties. Participants toured local businesses and community organizations, explored regional assets, and connected with leaders representing education, workforce development, government, community development, agriculture, and health care. The program concluded in Springfield at the State Capitol, where participants met with legislators, observed committee hearings and floor sessions, and gained firsthand insight into how state?level decisions influence local communities.

 

For participants, the experience went well beyond leadership theory.

 

“Participating in WILA has been incredibly impactful for me as a business development professional in health care,” said Caitlin Dallas. “The knowledge I gained and the connections I made throughout the program have been truly invaluable. I especially appreciated the opportunity to meet and learn from professionals across a wide range of industries and neighboring counties. WILA broadened my perspective and strengthened both my personal and professional network in meaningful ways.”

Since its founding, hundreds of WILA graduates have moved into influential roles across western Illinois, often describing the experience as transformational in shaping how they lead and collaborate across county lines.

 

With registration now open for the next WILA class, Illinois Extension and its partners are continuing to invest in leaders who will guide western Illinois communities into the future. Learn more or apply at go.illinois.edu/WILA.

 

About Extension: University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.

 

Photo caption: Participants in the most recent Western Illinois Leadership Academy class pose on the steps of the Illinois State Capitol during the program’s final session in Springfield. Registration is now open for the next WILA class.

 

Contact: Shelby Crow, County Director, sschoon@illinois.edu, 217-223-8380