The YLI Class of 2025 had a blast at their opening retreat this past weekend! Thank you to our sponsor KPMG for making this experience possible. Excited for what’s ahead!

Calling all Lead DSM alums! Who will YOU catch up with at Toast on the Lawn this year? Tag a former classmate you’d like to see. And register at leaddsm.org/events by Aug. 23 for a surprise gift at the Sept. 24 all-alumni reunion and fundraiser.

What a great start to the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute program year! We had a spectacular time welcoming the GDMLI Class of '25 at Orientation last week. Stay tuned for the release of the official class list soon!

If you missed the early bird deadline for Toast on the Lawn, you’re in luck, late bird. We’ve extended it just for you! Join the alumni society and register for Toast by 9/6 (THIS Friday) for a surprise gift at the 9/24 event. Get all the details at leaddsm.org/events.

Register now for a fascinating, fun, food-centric alumni exclusive outing: Behind the Scenes with LSI Global Greens, Sept. 28. We’ll go from farm to market, walking through the fields and touring the market aisles. Register at leaddsm.org/events.

"One of my favorite things is learning what our alums do with their leadership after they leave our programs,” says Amy Jennings, executive director of Lead DSM. “We want to hear those stories and honor those achievements.” Nominate an alum at leaddsm.org/leadershipawar… by midnight.

New for this year’s Toast on the Lawn: We’re shifting to a slightly more intimate spot at Water Works Park – beneath the trees and string lights in the Biergarten. Join the 1982 Society, and register now. We’ll see you here on 9/24! Get the details at leaddsm.org/events.

Register now for a fascinating, fun, food-centric alumni exclusive outing: Behind the Scenes with LSI Global Greens, Sept. 28. We’ll go from farm to market, walking through the fields and touring the market aisles. Register at leaddsm.org/events.

It’s just 1 WEEK until Toast on the Lawn, our all-alumni reunion & fundraiser on 9/24. Sync your watches & get registered! Find all the details at leaddsm.org/events. P.S. Join the 1982 Society & donate if you can. It’s very demure, very mindful, & very much appreciated!

And the Workplace Community Leadership Award goes to... Strategic America, a marketing agency headquartered in West Des Moines. Congratulations, Strategic America. Join us in honoring the company at Toast on the Lawn next Tuesday. Details at leaddsm.org/events.

And the Volunteer of the Year Award goes to... Stacy Lage! Stacy is a commercial claims manager at Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Company, a graduate of Lead DSM’s GDMLI Class of 2012 and Community Connect Class of 2015, & a former Lead DSM Board chair. Congratulations, Stacy!

And the Youth Impact Award goes to...Claire Bissmeyer! Claire is a Drake University student and a graduate of Lead DSM’s Youth Leadership Initiative Class of 2020. Congratulations, Claire! Join us in honoring Claire at Toast on the Lawn next Tuesday. Details on our website.

And the A. Arthur Davis Community Leadership Award goes to... Bo James! Bo is the founder and executive director of Hip-Hope Inc. and a graduate of Lead DSM’s GDMLI Class of 2018. Congratulations, Bo! Join us in honoring Bo at Toast on the Lawn on 9/24. Visit our site for details

Who will YOU catch up with at Toast on the Lawn this year? Tag a former classmate you’d like to see at next week’s reunion. (Yes, it’s next week: Tuesday, Sept. 24!) And register now at leaddsm.org/events.

This just in! Sharane calister (from Season 14 of “The Voice”) will perform live at Toast on the Lawn, our all-alumni reunion and fundraiser, on Tuesday. Alums, you won’t want to miss it! Register now at leaddsm.org/events/.

We’re so excited—and we just can’t hide it! Toast on the Lawn is TOMORROW! Alums, please register now at leaddsm.org/events and join us!

OK, alums, it’s almost GLOW time. Don’t forget to come to the Biergarten for Toast on the Lawn. Tonight, tonight, tonight! 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. See you soon!

Oh, what a night! It was GOOD to see you, Lead DSM alums, at Toast on the Lawn last night. Thank you for coming. You lit it up! Please share this post with other alums or tag them in the replies!

Show your Lead DSM pride! Shop the Lead DSM merch store before it closes on Friday, Sept. 27. A portion of the proceeds supports our mission-driven work! Check in out at: stores.inksoft.com/lead_dsm.

If you missed this year’s Toast on the Lawn, it’s not too late to make an impact or connect. Join the 1982 Society or donate by 10/1, and you’ll still be counted in this year’s fundraiser supporting YLI. Register for our upcoming alumni events. Details at leaddsm.org.