LCC is an intense community leadership program, unique in our area, consisting of classes one day per month for ten months, September through June; two 2-3 day retreats, one in the fall and one in February; and participation in a team project. Classes comprise a wide-ranging age group of community leaders representing both large and small businesses, government agencies, nonprofit organizations and neighborhoods. The competitive selection process ensures a good mix of interesting classmates.

The program includes a 10 month training program designed to develop effective leaders to serve our community. We select 35 existing or emerging leaders and educate them about critical issues in the Clark County, introduce them to the key players already serving, and enhance their personal leadership skills so that they will go out and work more effectively in community service. Participants take a personality assessment and learn about their own styles and the styles of others, and they are then placed in small teams where they come up with projects designed to benefit the community. These teams are intentionally comprised of people who are very different, with the specific purpose of giving them skills and experience working successfully with diversity.

We have had graduates who have gone on to legislative service, non-profit board service, business leadership, educational service, and many other behind the scenes support services. The projects (about 5-6 per year) have been varied and have contributed in many different ways to the community.

LCC fosters connections between people of very different backgrounds and allows a safe forum for them to get to know and trust each other and be exposed to different ideas. Participants come from the private sector, government agencies, and non-profit groups. They represent many fields, including education, technology, banking, law, real estate, construction, social services, government, energy, and small business. Individuals may be parents, mediators, community activists, or retirees. They may be experts in their own fields and at the top of that field, but LCC allows them to learn from others in very different fields, and to work with others they would normally never encounter or spend time with. This creates a rare opportunity for “cross-fertilization” of ideas, and a marvelous opportunity for a much richer web of community.

Leadership Clark County is not "book learning." It is a practical, action-oriented, hands-on experience. Instruction takes place using:

• Lectures
• Site tours
• Case studies
• Presenter panels
• Group projects

Group Projects

Throughout the year, participants also work in teams on small group projects of their own designed to benefit our community. These projects require a significant time commitment, develop lasting networks, and provide hands-on practical experience in civic leadership development.

From the program's point of view, the process of learning group process skills, evolving team leadership, and working within the community to conceive, plan, fund and implement a solution to a real local need is just as, if not more important than the end product or service. Most projects are completed by the June graduation date, but many teams stay together beyond the formal end of the program to finish what they started or to continue friendships.

The projects (about 5-6 per year) have been varied and have contributed in many different ways to the community. Last year, one group researched “green” products available locally to use in construction; they designed a website comparing costs of these green products with those more traditionally used, and surprisingly found many of the green products to be similar or less in cost than the traditional products. Another group designed a presentation to be used by Clark College’s adult literacy program to recruit volunteers and donations to help increase adult literacy, especially among foreign language residents. The project involved telling the individual stories of students in the literacy program in a readers’ theater format.

There are many, many other notable LCC projects that help to solve problems within Clark County and thereby to strengthen this community. Two different LCC teams contributed to planning what is now the Firstenburg Community Center; another team examined the I-5 bridge crossing issue and some of their work has allegedly been used by the county as it continues to consider transportation across the Columbia. A monthly family night at the YWCA for homeless families and their children continues almost 10 years after the LCC class designed it; indeed LCC alumni continue to help staff it. One project helped find foster families for several children; another helped with a strategic plan for the local Boys and Girls Club. Yet another team studied the “walkablity” of our neighborhoods and made suggestions to the planning department to improve designs of sidewalks so that people can walk and use wheelchairs more easily.

Subject area topics may include:

• Historical perspective of the region
• Community well-being and health care
• Business and economic development
• Growth, quality of life, environment
• Local, county, and state governments
• Youth, education, justice
• Diversity and social services

Sample projects (Topics do not represent the views of the board of LCC, or LCC as a program):

• Community Walkability Assessment
• "Build Green Clark County"
• "Tolls Not Trolls"
• Local government poster