LeadershipPlenty
Overview
Rural Community College Institute
March 26, 2003
David S. Boyd, AICP
FOCUS St. Louis
Why LeadershipPlenty?
• Leadership is not a “problem” that is “solved once and
for all.
• It is instead an evolving and crucial need that shifts and
changes as communities change.
• The good news is that we live in communities of
leadership plenty – that is, plenty of people with
untapped talents to make their communities better
places to live, work, and raise families.
• LeadershipPlenty is a powerful training program
designed to equip citizens to take effective civic action.
LeadershipPlenty: Core Values1
• People working together can solve problems in their
communities.
• Effective long-term solutions to community problems
demand that people with diverse perspectives of the
problem, especially those people most affected by the
problem, be involved in developing and implementing
the solution.
• By working together on meaningful problem-solving
activities, people build relationships that benefit the
long-term health of the community.
LeadershipPlenty: Core Values2
• Working together creatively and respectfully through
honest acknowledgment of self-interests is a better
strategy to address problems than an “us” against
“them” approach.
• Community problem-solving efforts should be inclusive;
they are strengthened by engaging people of different
backgrounds and life experiences.
LeadershipPlenty: Core Values3
• Learning is a life-long activity; all individuals can learn
new skills that will enhance their ability to participate in
community problem solving; all individuals (including
established leaders) can benefit from opportunities to
develop and practice collaborative skills important to
community problem solving.
LeadershipPlenty: For Everyone
The training program is intended to equip people
from all walks of like to participate more effectively
in community problem-solving:
• For diverse citizens with no history of working together
OR
• Groups that have been working together but want to
increase their capacity to achieve results!
• Volunteer or Professional
• Public, Non-Profit, or For-Profit Sectors
• Neighborhoods, Citywide, or Regional Partnerships
LeadershipPlenty: Skills
The training program identifies skills that are vital for
people to develop in order to solve community
problems:
• The Modules “build” on one another.
• The Modules are presented in logical Phases to
address group assets, dynamics, management, and
moving toward action.
• A deliberative dialogue practicum is strongly
recommended to help the group deepen their
understanding.
LeadershipPlenty: The Pilot
• 1997: Pew launches national leadership development
program in ten cities.
– Over 600 emerging/established leaders involved
• 2002: Thirteen National Partners enlisted, each with
different goals and audiences:
– American Planning Association to the League of Women
Voters to Telephone Pioneers of America and More!
• National Partners enlist Local Affiliates
• Trainings Held:
– Richmond, VA July 2002
– New Orleans, LA January 2003
• General Call for Community Partners (fall 2003)
LeadershipPlenty:
For More Information
Visit the Pew Partnership for Civic Change
www.PewPartnership.org
Jim Knowles, Director of Communications
knowles@pew-partnership.org
(434) 971-2073