Overview

Introduction - The Public Leadership & Civic Engagement Academy is a partnership initiative between the University of Washington and Heritage University in the Yakima Valley. The Leadership Academy provides engaging and learning activities for community members to build their skills in public leadership and civic engagement. The goal is to increase the number of under-represented groups in public leadership and civic engagement. It uses the training model used by the University of Washington in the Puget Sound for training public leaders and elected officials. The Leadership Academy includes the following activities to increase the public leadership skills of community members:

Academy Training Program

The Leadership Academy is a nine-month training program running from September through May each year. Participants attend skills-building seminars one Saturday each month for the duration of the program. Those completing the program earn a Certificate of Leadership Achievement.

Skills Building Seminars: Each seminar is facilitated by the Academy Director and a UW Facilitator and include presentations by professors, public/ community leaders and elected officials. These seminars engage participants in hands-on learning activities that use local and real current events. Seminar topics include:

Networking/Mentoring: The Leadership Academy provides opportunities for participants to network with local leaders through its seminars and other community activities. The Academy facilitates mentoring opportunities between local leaders and academy participants.

Community Projects: The Academy participants identify and discuss community needs and potential projects. Participants form teams and work on a community project in which they can apply their newly learned skills. These projects are managed by the teams and may include a local leader as a mentor/advisor. The Academy staff provides advice for the community projects.

Public Service: The Leadership Academy staff works with local governments and organizations to identify public service opportunities for participants. These may include serving on city, county, school or community committees; task forces; or boards of directors. The Academy facilitates matching participants' interests with public service opportunities.

Research/ Database: The Leadership Academy researches and maintains a list of public service opportunities and participant's interests to make referrals to local and state boards, commissions and committees. The Academy conducts ongoing research and analysis on the various demographic representations on local boards, committees and commissions.

Management, Leadership & Faculty

The Management and Leadership for the Academy is provided by a Director and a UW Facilitator. The Academy has a group of Community Advisors that consists of individuals with experience in public service, elected office or community leadership. These Community Advisors assist in the development of the program, the curriculum and advise the directors in the operation of the Academy. The Seminars are conducted by Academy Faculty consisting of UW professors, Heritage University professors and community leaders.

Participation in Academy

Participants in the Leadership Academy can apply to or be nominated by other leaders or public organizations. Those nominated will be contacted and asked to complete an application. The application information includes: contact information, interest in participation, goals and a commitment to participate. Participants are selected by a committee of advisors and staff members based on their interests, leadership potential and commitment to participate. The Selected members attend the Academy as a cohort/ group of participants for the duration of the program. Participants will beare required to attend the entire program.

Participant Applications are due by September 7, 2007

Send to: University of Washington - Attn: Cristina Galván, 3240 Fort Road, Toppenish, WA 98948