Designing a new community leadership role for Audubon

INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE

2026

Together with Audubon's Christmas Bird Count, we are working within the framework of the Community Engagement Leader (CEL) role: a flexible community leadership function, complementary to the Compiler, aimed at improving the onboarding, retention, and leadership development in each participating circle.

The design includes variations of the role based on the size and capacity of each circle, a phased support model for the participant's journey, and a phased implementation plan from an initial pilot cohort to wider adoption.