CLAREMONT – Claremont Lincoln University (CLU) and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (LILP) have named Shelly Barrick Parsons as one of the 60 civic leaders selected for the Spring 2025 cohort of the Lincoln Vibrant Communities Fellows Program, a novel initiative for public sector leaders working to enhance their leadership skills and to tackle the most pressing issues facing cities—housing, climate, land, water, finance, infrastructure—to build and sustain vibrant communities.
The Lincoln Vibrant Communities Fellows Program, which kicks off with a conference that will bring participants together for the first time in Chicago from January 30 – 31, 2025, seeks to empower civic leaders to tackle critical city and county challenges head-on, address the diverse needs of all residents, and drive meaningful change.
Shelly Barrick Parsons serves as the Executive Director of Capital Trees, a Richmond-based nonprofit dedicated to increasing tree canopy, developing and managing public greenspaces, and fostering community engagement through environmentally sustainable practices. Under her leadership, Capital Trees has advanced transformative projects such as the development of Hotchkiss Green and enhancements at Canoe Run Park. The organization also prioritizes the ongoing stewardship of completed projects, ensuring that public landscapes remain vibrant, accessible, and ecologically resilient for future generations. Shelly’s work reflects a commitment to building greener, healthier communities and inspiring collective action for environmental sustainability.
Because the initial applicant pool was so strong, CLU and LILP expanded the cohort size of the Fellows Program from 40 to 60 civic leaders. Fellows in the cohort represent communities from across the United States, from Alaska to Maine to Florida.
“We had such an abundance of highly qualified applicants,” Claremont Lincoln University President and CEO Dr. Lynn Priddy said. “We expanded the cohort to bring together as much talent as possible.”
Fellows were predominately selected from public sector professionals in local government or an association serving local governments and non-profit organizations. Fellows represent city managers, council members, regional planners, agency directors, and more.
“I am honored to be part of the Lincoln Vibrant Communities Fellows Program,” said Shelly Barrick Parsons. “As someone who transitioned into this field from ministry, I look forward to complementing my experience with concrete skills and learning from peers across the country. This program offers a unique opportunity to deepen my knowledge and apply new approaches to building equitable, vibrant public spaces that serve and connect communities.”
Through the Lincoln Vibrant Communities Fellows Program, participants will deepen their leadership capacity and enhance their knowledge of policy trends, cases and toolkits, scenario planning approaches to solutions, and emerging practices. The six-month program includes immersive in-person training and events, online curricula, individual and group coaching, expert webinars, and peer networking.
Claremont Lincoln University and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy developed the Vibrant Communities Fellows Program as part of a larger Vibrant Communities initiative to enhance ethical leadership in local government and build communities of trust, inclusion, and innovation.
“We are ready and excited to welcome the newest cohort for the Lincoln Vibrant Communities Fellows Program. This is a tremendous opportunity for leaders from across the nation to sharpen their skills, and work to put ideas and plans into practice,” President and CEO of LILP Dr. George “Mac” McCarthy said. “The Lincoln Vibrant Communities Fellows Program is a groundbreaking initiative that will propel public sector leaders to the forefront of change.”
Claremont Lincoln University is the university of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, a non-profit global thought leader solving social, environmental, and economic challenges. Working to bridge the gap between theory and practice, CLU and LILP provide a unique framework for engaged, ethical, and collaborative leadership.
About Claremont Lincoln University and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy traces its origins to John C. Lincoln, a Cleveland industrialist and investor who in 1946 established the Lincoln Foundation. The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy was established in 1974 to focus on property valuation and taxation policy, urban planning and development, land economics, and property rights. In 2006, the Lincoln Foundation and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy merged to become a private operating foundation.
Claremont Lincoln University was founded in 2011 out of the Lincoln family’s passion for ethical leadership, collaboration, and respect across differences and for developing leaders who can engage their communities in addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges.
Claremont Lincoln University, an accredited, private non-profit university, offers a unique framework for engaged, ethical, and collaborative leadership. Its programs embed the research, cases, toolkits, and advanced practices of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.
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