Bridging the gap: Listening to the next generation of leaders
Across the nation — and right here in North Idaho — community, civic and service organizations are facing a challenge that can no longer be ignored: a widening generational gap in engagement. While traditional institutions like Chambers of Commerce, Rotary clubs, Kiwanis and Lions have long been pillars of community connection and service, participation from young professionals ages 18 to 40 has steadily declined. The reasons behind this trend are complex, but the message is clear — our next generation of leaders is not finding what they need in our current offerings.
At the Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber, we believe the future of our community depends on reversing that trend. That’s why we’ve launched a summer research project to better understand what the next generation wants, needs and values when it comes to community involvement, leadership development and civic engagement.
We’re proud to have Emily Forslof leading this important work as our 2025 summer intern. A college student at Hamilton College in upstate New York, Emily is double-majoring in Creative Writing and Religious Studies. She’s also one of our own — an alumna of Coeur d’Alene High School and a recipient of the Chamber's 2023 scholarship program. Now, she’s come full circle, bringing her perspective, skills and curiosity back to the community that first invested in her future.
“I care deeply about this community,” Emily said. “Being part of this project is not only a way to give back, but also a chance to help shape a future where more young people feel empowered to lead and contribute. We have so much to offer — sometimes we just need to be asked.”
Emily is working closely with two incredible mentors: Sydni Parker, a chamber member and millennial, and Marita Diffenbaugh, director of Innovation at North Idaho College, who is helping oversee the research process. Together, they’ve built a thoughtful two-phase approach designed to uncover not just what’s missing but what’s possible.
Phase One of the study is a quantitative survey, now open to participants between the ages of 18 and 40 who live and/or work in North Idaho. The survey explores attitudes, behaviors and motivations surrounding community involvement, leadership and engagement. Our goal is to collect at least 100 responses by July 15, and we strongly encourage young professionals in that age range to take a few minutes to share their input. The survey is short and deeply valuable.
“This project is about listening before we lead,” said Sydni Parker. “We want to build something that reflects the actual needs and dreams of this generation — not just assume we know what they want. That’s how we create real belonging and relevance.”
Phase Two will follow with a series of focus groups, where we’ll dive deeper into the findings from the survey and explore specific ideas for programs, benefits and opportunities that would truly resonate with this generation. This qualitative phase will give us rich insights into what would make young professionals feel seen, supported and inspired to engage more actively in our community.
“Creating space for generative dialogue is at the heart of meaningful innovation,” said Marita Diffenbaugh. “The focus groups will allow us to move beyond statistics and truly hear the stories, hopes and ideas of the people we’re hoping to engage.”
But this is just the beginning. The Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber is committed to using this research to shape a new program that speaks directly to the values, lifestyles and aspirations of our region’s emerging leaders. We don’t just want young professionals to show up — we want them to feel like they belong, like they have a voice and like their involvement matters.
Importantly, this work won’t benefit only the Chamber. Once complete, we plan to share the results of our study with all local civic, service and community organizations, with the hope that everyone can apply the insights to strengthen their outreach and relevance.
We are also hoping it might create partnership opportunities for us to address this issue as a community. From service clubs to leadership groups, everyone has a role to play in creating a more inclusive and intergenerational future.
And we’re not stopping there. The next step will be the formation of a Next Generation program that we hope to launch in 2026. We will create a working Next Generation committee — made up of young professionals, mentors and organizational leaders — who will be tasked with bringing these ideas to life. They’ll help design programs, build connections and ensure that our community remains vibrant, future-focused and united across generations.
As we look ahead, we’re excited — not just about what we’ll learn, but about what we’ll become. A few years ago, our board went through a comprehensive strategic planning exercise and one of the outcomes was to create new core values. My most favorite of those values is to listen intently to the needs of our community. And when we truly listen to the next generation, we won’t just preserve the legacy of community — we will ignite its future.
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Linda Coppess is the CEO and president of the Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber.
Coppess