2026 NH-ME LEND Cohort Kicks Off
The 2026 Cohort Kicks Off with Team Building and Reflection
The NH-ME LEND program opens every September with a full weekend of team building. Meeting in person for the first time, trainees come to UNH to get to know each other, begin to make connections, and learn about all that the LEND program has in store for them.
Most memorable for LEND Alums is the day spent in the woods at the Browne Center for Innovative Learning, where group activities set the foundation of respect, inclusiveness, communication, and collaboration. This year’s trainees gathered the following day at the UNH Whittemore Center to work in their newly formed teams, explore their Values in Action (VIA) character strengths, and learn more about the LEND leadership journey.
We welcome the 2026 Cohort and proudly share inspiring images and a selection of reflections written at the weekend’s conclusion. We look forward to fostering and mentoring this powerful group of individuals along their path to becoming the future disability leaders in Maine and New Hampshire.
“We’re learning how to be in a group, how to guide a group, and how to achieve things as a collective. We’re learning about ourselves and how we can be effective. I was struck by the community agreement, When your mind starts to judge, turn to wonder.”
“Learning about character strengths through the VIA activities made me realize how many values I shared with the other trainees and opened discussion for the values we did not share– which I think also fostered a sense of connection.”
“I can now see that there can potentially be times that never taking a healthy risk could impose more regret. Overall, I think I need to take on more challenges by choice, as any decisions made, safe or risky, will always have their pros/cons to them.”
“I am feeling the spark now of starting to recognize that leadership starts from a place of reclaiming parts of oneself that one may be taught are incongruent with leadership. Crucial to this process is understanding that these qualities can express themselves in different ways and one may learn to leverage them with intention.”
