Created by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Arkansas, Inc., Leadership Arkansas identifies and trains individuals with the passion and commitment to become personally engaged in issues, programs and activities aimed at building a better Arkansas.  Over a nine month period, about 45 participants receive the equivalent of a post graduate degree in how Arkansas works in a monthly program that allows them to see first-hand the challenges and accomplishments of local communities.

Each year, 20 individuals participate in ten full-day sessions of interviews, speaker presentations, readings and group activities designed to facilitate the development of critical leadership skill sets. The keystones of the program are a one-on-one mentorship program, a group project fulfilling an expressed need in the community, and a series of readings in the humanities. Participants emerge from the program prepared to fill leadership roles, filled with the desire to tackle a diverse array of community problems and challenges.

Founded in 1990, Leadership Alabama is a statewide nonprofit organization that each year brings together a class of 50-60 participants for four two-and-one-half-day retreats over a nine month period. The program develops participants' leadership skills through a series of issues-oriented forums on politics and government, education, business and economics, and quality of life, among other topics.

Leadership Akron is a leadership development class that meets once-monthly to educate class members about vital aspects of the greater Akron community. Each year, 34 participants are selected to analyze major areas of community concern, provides opportunities for open dialogue between leaders with diverse perspectives, examines leadership styles, and promotes a network of community trustees committed to the greater good.

Leadership New Jersey educates statewide professionals and leaders on issues most important to the state. Fifty professionals who are also civic leaders are selected annually to participate in 10 monthly seminars across the state to explore the trends, forces and people shaping the state. Fellows complete the program with new relationships with leaders across the state and a deepened understanding of New Jersey's problems and opportunities, as well as its needs and resources.

NOW chapters focus on six priority issues including reproductive rights, ending sex discrimination/constitutional equality, promoting diversity and ending racism, economic justice, stopping violence against women, and LGBTQIA rights. 

Founded in 2007, the Kansas Leadership Center focuses on civic leadership training and development across generations, political aisles, geographic expanse and other divides. Programs - ranging from one day to one week - include civic leadership, community collaboration, and leadership and legacy in the statehouse. Typical participants are often from the non-profit, governmental, and/or grassroots sectors and share a commitment to community betterment.

Founded in 1966, the National Organization for Women (NOW) is multi-issue, multi-strategy organization that takes a holistic approach to women's rights. The organization's official priorities are winning economic equality and securing it with an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that will guarantee equal rights for women; championing abortion rights, reproductive freedom and other women's health issues; opposing racism and fighting bigotry against lesbians and gays; and ending violence against women.

Iowa NEW Leadership is an intensive six-day residential institute that develops college womens public leadership skills, supports their engagement in civic life, and creates opportunities for them to build relationships with women involved in public leadership on the local, state, and national levels. 

The Iowa General Assembly passed gender balance legislation (HF 243) in 2009, requiring that all appointive boards, commissions, committees and councils of the state be gender balanced. Gender balance on state-level boards and commissions has been required since 1987, and the 2009 legislation extended this expectation to county and city boards and commissions. This law goes into effect in January 2012.