The New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce is launching Pathways to Leadership, a six-week program designed to help participants better understand how the community and region work, how decisions are made, and how they can make a meaningful impact.
The program has been in development for months. At the Chamber’s Candidate Forum in April, Chamber President and CEO Jonathan Packer gave attendees an early look at plans to create a new opportunity focused on civic understanding, community engagement, and leadership. This fall, that idea will officially come to life with the first Pathways to Leadership cohort.
“We have so many people in this community who care deeply about New Braunfels and want to contribute, but getting involved can feel complicated if you don’t know where to start,” Packer said. “Pathways is about helping people understand how things work, connecting them with the people doing the work, and giving them the tools to find their own way to contribute.”
Pathways to Leadership will bring participants together with local and regional leaders, subject-matter experts, and one another for conversations, interactive activities, and firsthand learning. Rather than promoting a particular point of view, the program is designed to encourage curiosity, help participants find trustworthy information, and create a better understanding of how the people, organizations, and systems that shape the region work together.
Over six weeks, participants will explore six pathways:
Sessions will go beyond traditional presentations, giving participants opportunities to hear directly from leaders, ask questions, explore different perspectives, and apply what they learn through interactive activities. The program is intended to help participants leave with practical resources and a clearer understanding of how they can stay informed, serve, advocate, and engage in ways that are meaningful to them.
“One of the ideas behind Pathways is that community engagement isn’t one-size-fits-all,” Packer said. “For one person, the next step might be volunteering with a nonprofit. For someone else, it might be serving on a board, learning more about an issue, advocating for an idea, or simply becoming a more informed neighbor. Our job is not to tell people what their pathway should be. It’s to help them better understand the community and the opportunities in front of them.”
The inaugural Pathways to Leadership program will be held on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., September 22 through October 27. Participants are encouraged to attend all six sessions to get the most from the experience.
Pathways to Leadership is open to anyone, and Chamber membership is not required.
Registration is now open. To learn more about Pathways to Leadership and register for the inaugural cohort, visit www.nbchamber.com/pathways.