Regional Leadership Institute (RLI)

The Regional Leadership Institute (RLI) immerses participants in key issues facing the metro region and welcomes them into a dynamic network of like-minded peers. Participants delve into topics ranging from housing affordability, transit and transportation planning, economic development, and workforce development –content connected to the ARC’s core functions and key priorities. Over the course of the program, participants hear from some of the region's top leaders and subject matter experts while exploring policy and planning through a regional lens. This program also examines how structural inequality has shaped our region and offers leaders the tools and approaches to create a more equitable Metro Atlanta. Leaders are invited to be reflective about how they approach their work, what tools and resources they currently use to inform their decisions, and what will shape their leadership in the future.

Program Goals

Educate leaders about core challenges impacting the region using a regional lens.
Foster a network of regional leaders across sectors invested in working collaboratively to create an equitable and inclusive region that serves all its residents.
Create a space for inquiry, discussion, and sharing of knowledge, approaches, tools, and other resources to help leaders better tackle a range of regional policy concerns.

Regional Knowledge

A regional leader in Metro Atlanta understands:

The history of our region—how and when key decisions were made and how those decisions shape our current reality and future potential.
The socioeconomic geography of our region—past, present, and future—with an understanding of and appreciation for the diversity of our residents and their experiences.
The core functions of the Atlanta Regional Commission and how it works in relationship with our city, county, and state governing bodies.
The urgent issues that endanger our region’s livability, prosperity, and innovation, as well as our opportunities to address them, with a focus on transportation and housing.
How large-scale infrastructure projects are funded and built, with a focus on transportation and housing.

Leadership Capacity

A regional leader in Metro Atlanta can:

Leverage their unique leadership sensibility and strengths and hone their leadership lens.
Responsibly use their voice to inspire and protect people, resources, and ideas.
Embrace and foster a leadership culture, seeking to respect and understand the contributions – broad and nuanced – that other leaders bring to any situation.
Conduct crucial conversations that remain focused on objectives and mutually-benefiting outcomes.
Thoughtfully forecast complex future scenarios.

Consensus Mindset

A regional leader in Metro Atlanta believes:

Though we represent many counties and municipalities, the world views us as One Great Region and we must be energized by a sense of the collective opportunity inherent in working together.
Though we may build bridges now that we ourselves will never cross, we do this in service to those who will need them tomorrow.
Equity begins with seeing situations through the eyes of others and making decisions based on that understanding.
Community engagement and inclusion is essential to understanding the needs of every one and is the greatest weapon against building infrastructures that ostracize
Community building work can be “trench warfare”. (complex, messy and difficult) but there is nonetheless an imperative to undertake it, working collaboratively across real and artificial boundaries in service to long game goals.

“The Regional Leadership Institute experience has not only deepened my awareness of the challenges facing the region, but has allowed me to interact with fellow decision makers and seek out innovative solutions to move our region forward collectively. It was one of my best experiences!”
Nicole Hendrickson, Chairwoman, Gwinnett County Government - Class of 2016
“I am always impressed with the content of the program and the participants the Regional Leadership Institute. I am often asked to give speeches at other leadership programs around the region. I always end those by suggesting that participants’ next step as leaders should be RLI. I don’t think one can be an authentic and effective leader without first understanding the regional context. There is no better way to learn than going through RLI.”
Bill Bolling, Atlanta Community Food Bank, Founder - Class of 1992
“The Regional Leadership Institute was a necessary and transformative experience for my leadership development and impact in the region. Oftentimes, we lead in silos, and RLI is an amazing opportunity to understand the collective action of our work. This experience offers the network to connect and learn from some of the region’s most impactful leaders. I am a stronger leader because of this program. Thank you Atlanta Regional Commission.”
Eshé P. Collins, Chair, Atlanta Board of Education - Class of 2021

Program Description

In 2026, RLI will be hosted in downtown metro Atlanta at ARC’s offices and at Legacy Lodge at Lake Lanier. Program days are a combination of presentations, group discussions, leadership activities, and interdisciplinary and interactive simulations. Participants are expected to participate in all program days.

The 2026 RLI program will be divided into multiple program days, study group dinners, and a retreat at Lanier Islands at Legacy Lodge. These dates include:

September 15, 2026 – Orientation Day
September 16, 2026 – Training Day
September 22, 2026 – Housing Day
September 23, 2026 – Transportation Days
October 4-7, 2026 – Retreat

Program days will generally run from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. with some evening programming while participants are at Lanier Islands at Legacy Lodge.

Click on the photo below to view a larger image.

Applicants

Applications are solicited from eleven counties in the metro Atlanta region – Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale. RLI intentionally brings together leaders across a diverse range of sectors, fields, and industries including but not limited to: education, arts, planning, civic and community advocacy, business, engineering, real estate, sustainability, parks, food systems, entertainment, and economic development.

Each cohort is intentionally composed of leaders who are diverse in sector, experience, background, geography, and expertise. Given this emphasis on diversity of experience, sector, and knowledge, we are looking for leaders who:

Possess a willingness to learn, even in areas where they have the expertise.
Demonstrate a desire to build relationships and share their knowledge, perspective, and resources.
Have a commitment to building a network of leaders who have a regional approach and focus even as they act locally.
Consistently seek to expand their leadership toolkit and capacity to lead.
Value equity as a core value and approach to shaping our region’s future.
Are invested in their continued growth as a leader.

The application process begins on February 16, 2026, and the deadline to apply is on March 13, 2026. Participants are notified about program status in May.

Selection Criteria

Selection criteria include the following:

We are looking for leaders who have a history of civic engagement, and a desire to expand their leadership toolkits and approaches.
We are looking for leaders who are curious about other communities in the region.
We are looking for applicants who are deeply committed to shaping and transforming the region into a more equitable and inclusive place that serves all its residents.
We seek applications that clearly articulate a participant’s interest in exploring regional challenges through an intersectional lens.
We are looking for applications that demonstrate that applicants will use their RLI experience to deepen the scope of their positive impact in the region.
As a planning agency for the 11-county region, we seek representation for leaders across the eleven noted counties. To be eligible applicants must live and/or work in one of the following counties: Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale.

Selection and Process

All applicants must complete the official online application. The online application is the single opportunity our application review committee has to learn about an applicant’s interests, background, and engagement in the region, professionally and/or civically. As this is a competitive application process, applicants’ responses help us to ascertain how they might benefit from and contribute to the program and the unique community that develops out of it.

The RLI Selection Committee is comprised of ARC staff and selected RLI alumni. Each year the committee seeks to select a diverse group of individuals with regard to ethnicity, gender, geography, profession, community service and demonstrated leadership. This is a competitive process. A selection committee will review applications.

Application Timeline and Program Dates

Program Commitment

Participants will encounter challenging content that may bring up a range of feelings and responses. We ask participants to be willing to work through discomfort. To show up with a willingness to learn, even in areas where they have expertise and share their knowledge, perspective, and resources with those in community with them at RLI.
We look at the whole leader and ask that participants bring their full selves, talents, and personalities into the space.
We ask that participants arrive alert and prepare for fully intense days of learning, engaging, and discussion.
Participants are expected to attend all program days.

Program Fee

$3,300 Nonprofit/government (i.e. local government agencies, smaller nonprofit/advocacy orgs)

$3,700 For profit/private sector (i.e. businesses, consulting firms, economic development agencies, CIDs, very large/robust nonprofits)

Tuition covers hotel accommodations at Legacy Lodge, training and leadership materials, and breakfast and lunch at Legacy Lodge, and dinner on Sunday and Tuesday. Participants will have a single occupancy room and hotel reservations will be made for participants.

“During this course, you will be immersed in the key issues facing metro Atlanta today and have the opportunity to hear from some of the region’s top leaders and subject-matter experts. Expect your horizons to be broadened, your assumptions to be challenged, and your understanding of the region you call home to be deepened.”
Anna Roach, Executive Director & CEO, Atlanta Regional Commission
RLI does not provide “answers” to regional challenges but creates space for regional leaders to learn, discuss, and network.

RLI Alumni

Alumni List

Stay Connected

Regional Leadership Institute (RLI)

RLI 2026

Purpose & Goals