Thank you for your interest in the Conway Area Leadership Institute (CALI)! Please submit this application, two letters of recommendation, and a headshot (.JPEG or .PNG format) no later than February 25, 2022, to Corey Parks at corey@conwayarkansas.org to apply.
Letters of Recommendation
Two (2) letters of recommendation are required with your application and must be received by the application deadline. Letters of recommendation should speak to your leadership qualities, personal/professional engagement with issues of importance to the community, how you will benefit from the program, and how the program can help you contribute to the Conway area.
Please request these letters from your references well in advance to ensure receipt by the application deadline. It is the responsibility of the applicant to request these letters. Letters should be addressed to the Conway Area Leadership Institute Selection Committee and sent to CALI via email to Corey@ConwayArkansas.org. Please list on your application who will be your references.
Selection Criteria
An outside committee of CALI Alumni and community leaders select each year's class. This committee will develop a leadership class diverse in profession, geography, education, state of career, ethnicity, and gender. The Conway Area Leadership Institute does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin. Successful candidates will be well-rounded, actively involved in their community, and reflective of the diversity in Conway.
Tuition
Tuition is $1,495 and due in full by April 1, 2022. If payment or other arrangements have not been made by this time, the class participant will be withdrawn from the program. Tuition covers all meals during each session and lodging at the retreat. Participants are responsible for travel unless otherwise indicated.
If a participant withdraws or is dismissed from the program at any time or for any reason, tuition for that participant will not be refunded or transferred to a subsequent year.
CALI Scholarships
A limited number of need-based scholarships are available to CALI applicants. To request financial assistance, submit an application for a CALI scholarship. If selected as a class participant, payment plans are available to you and/or your employer.
Attendance
Attendance at the class retreat and graduation ceremony is mandatory. Failure to attend the retreat in full requires withdrawal from the program. Participants are expected to attend all sessions in their entirety to graduate from the Conway Area Leadership Institute. Participants missing more than 16 hours of sessions may be automatically withdrawn from the program without a tuition refund.
Class of 2022 Program Schedule
Application Period Opens: January 5, 2022
Application Period Closes: February 25, 2022
Class Announcement/Meet & Greet Reception: March 14, 2022
Conway Area Chamber Annual Meeting: March 30, 2022
Retreat: April 1-2, 2022
Economic Development & Infrastructure: April 21, 2022
Local Economy: May 12, 2022
Outlook Conway: May 26, 2022
Education & Workforce: June 16, 2022
Arts, Culture, & Entertainment: July 14, 2022
Public Safety: August 11, 2022
City & County Government: September 8, 2022
State Government & Military: September 22, 2022
Parks & Recreation: October 20, 2022
Healthcare: November 10, 2022
Non-Profits: December 8, 2022
Graduation Celebration: January 13, 2023
Speaker & Sponsor Reception: January 16, 2023
Graduation Ceremony and Award Luncheon: January 17, 2023
*All dates are subject to change.
