About the “CIVIC Couples” series
Did you know CIVIC Leadership Institute’s alumni include several married couples who have both gone through the program, often years apart and at different stages in life? As part of our 30th anniversary reflection and in celebration of Valentine’s Day, we’re highlighting a few of these CIVIC Couples and the unique connections they share through their individual CIVIC experiences.
CIVIC’s impact can be seen not only across cohorts, but sometimes within the same household. Scott Adams (‘05) and Monique Adams (‘16) went through CIVIC nearly a decade apart, each at pivotal moments in their careers. For Scott, a Hampton Roads native, CIVIC offered a deeper understanding of the region, helping him build what he describes as a “cabinet of experts” across sectors, including healthcare, defense, and education, that he can call upon for insight, partnership, or perspective across the community.
Monique’s CIVIC experience came years later, at a pivotal moment as she launched 757 Angels. Entering CIVIC as a relatively new organizational leader, she credits the experience with broadening her exposure to the community’s key institutions and strengthening her leadership approach through observation, collaboration, and shared learning.
For Scott, hearing about Monique’s experience offered a fresh perspective on CIVIC and the region itself, reinforcing how the same program can resonate differently for each person. As he explained, “Monique isn’t from here, and I loved hearing about it from her perspective once she went through.” While Scott and Monique experienced CIVIC in different decades and under different circumstances, both point to the same defining element of their CIVIC experience – the people.
“It was really fun, it was well run, and we learned a lot. But it was about the people and the relationships,” Scott shared, while Monique reflected, “I was new to leading the organization, and you look to other leaders to see how they lead. I think the class of 2016 had incredible leaders in it, and I watched and learned a lot.” Together, their experiences highlight how CIVIC provides a shared foundation while supporting leaders where they are in their individual journeys.