POST FALLS — For 16 years, the River City Leadership Academy has developed skillsets for Post Falls community members to act with intention of empowering their community. 

At the graduation ceremony for RCLA’s Class of 2025 on Tuesday at the Prairie Falls Golf Club, class president Randy Westlund said he learned the value of a single question when considering solutions to roadblocks. 

“Why are you doing what you’re doing?” Westlund asked. 

RCLA was founded in 2009 and over nine months, the leadership training provides opportunities for individuals to create effective changes. 

The Post Falls Chamber of Commerce stressed the importance of growing local leadership and cultivating new bonds to foster the cultural identity of Post Falls. 

Christina Petit, president and CEO of the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce, said there were 23 strong leaders in this year’s RCLA class. 

“We look for people who are interested in giving back to the community,” Petit said. 

The goal is to deepen their understanding of different and unexpected facets of Post Falls and encourage them to plug into new avenues through their experiences.  

RCLA members are also pulled in from a variety of backgrounds. 

“We think that brings balance, they meet people that they wouldn’t otherwise,” Petit said.  

Michael Wolsten addressed the class and discussed how the graduates learned to assess, build and cultivate needed changes. 

“Multiply your impact,” Wolsten urged. “You guys aren’t just graduates, you’re catalysts.” 

Out of the 137 hours members of the class volunteered, RCLA graduate Steven Magnuson was honored for his contributions to the 3rd Avenue Marketplace. 

“There’s a man in our class who did more volunteer work and it’s not even close,” Westlund said.  

Petit said she is proud of the group, which became jokingly known as “the coffee-drinking class” for its high coffee beverage consumption rate at RCLA functions. 

“There’s a couple of job opportunities that have come out of this group and even some solutions,” Petit said. 

The graduates were asked to choose between 3rd Avenue Marketplace and Newby-ginnings of North Idaho as the recipient of $1,500, but the leaders were torn between the two organizations.

True to form, the RCLA class gave each nonprofit  $750.

    Steven Magnuson, Shawn Noel, Hollis Staal, Tolli Willhite, Teresa Heikkila and Nicole Barnett helped during the 3rd Avenue Marketplace fundraiser Empty Bowls.