Coro was founded in San Francisco in 1942 when W. Donald Fletcher, an attorney, and Van Duyn Dodge, an investment counselor, launched an exploration of the world of public affairs. Their premise was based on the realization that, unlike law, business or medicine, post graduate training in the area of leadership was non existent.

As the need for leadership training grew to national proportions, Coro began to explore new territories and established new centers, coming to Kansas City in 1975.

Coro program participants learn about the real world in the real world -- by actively questioning, interacting with diverse constituents, finding resources and coming up with innovative solutions to the problems faced by their communities. Together, participants explore community dynamics, leadership and decision-making, while building the skills necessary for successful careers in business, politics, education, government and the non-profit sectors.

In 2009, Coro Kansas City established a partnership with Park University's Hauptmann School for Public Affairs, part of an independent private institution of higher learning located in Kansas City. The program became a 10-week for-credit college internship. Students selected for the program register for summer credits at Park University (and in many cases transfer these elective credits back to their home institutions).

At Park University, Coro is led by The Honorable Kay Barnes, former Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri and Distinguished Professor for Public Leadership at Park University’s Hauptmann School for Public Affairs. This will be Kay’s second affiliation with Coro Kansas City — she served as our Executive Director in 1983. Kay will work closely with Don Wise, Hauptmann School Fellow for Nonprofit Leadership at Park University, the former Executive Director of the Civic Leadership Training Council, and a respected non-profit consultant.