Leadership Shawnee

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Leadership Shawnee is a leadership development program designed to provide community leaders with a deeper understanding of the critical issues affecting the greater Shawnee area. The program is based on the belief that knowledge of the community and accompanying areas of need are the prime motivators of leadership.

The program begins with a two-day mandatory retreat that focuses on community leadership skills and team building. Each of the remaining sessions will focus on a specific community topic such as economic development, education, city & state government, community development, & community pride. Each class will feature a 1-hr. leadership session.

Participants receive in-depth exposure to the critical issues facing the community through lectures, discussion groups, on-site visits, simulations, and other leadership development activities. Participants also get a chance to meet key community leaders. The location and format of each session is different. The program enables participants to develop their leadership capacities and build strong relationships.

Class size is limited to individuals who are employed by members of Shawnee Forward. Class members are selected to represent a broad range of occupations and backgrounds.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF CLASS GRADUATES

Improve their overall understanding of:

• Shawnee and the city’s processes, inter-relationships, strengths, and needs
• How state legislation and state departments impact our community

Increase their awareness of:

• Leadership opportunities in Shawnee
• The variety of leadership styles and levels

Learn or enhance their leadership skills by:

• Attending and participating in skills development exercises, lectures, and presentations
• Consciously noting where the skills are used, how they are used or misused, and when the presence of skills enhances communication, learning, and effectiveness

Apply skills and information gained during Leadership Shawnee to the community following graduation by:

• Increasing level of volunteerism
• Increasing level of advocacy
• An increasing level of community involvement and service
• Actively seeking out positions of leadership to fill within the community
• Completing a class project