What is Leadership Vallejo
Leadership Vallejo is modeled on a long-established
nationwide program of community leadership development and training, and is designed to help identify,
educate and train individuals interested in developing new skills and understanding in community
organization and development.
Who runs Leadership Vallejo?
Leadership Vallejo was first launched with a
seed grant from the Vallejo Chamber of Commerce. Today, the Chamber continues to assist
with some office support services, but the program itself is overseen by a
Board of Directors,
incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit, operating under their own By-Laws and consisting of
interested members of the Vallejo community, working on a volunteer basis. (A listing of the
current Board can be found on our website at
http://www.leadershipvallejo.com/BoardofDir.htm)
Is this a political leadership program?
Leadership programs like this develop individuals
who assume leadership positions in government as well as business, non-profit, charitable
and volunteer organizations. However, Leadership Vallejo does not promote any specific
political program or philosophy.
Have other communities in this area run
Leadership Programs like the one being developed for Vallejo?
Yes. As one example, Napa Valley’s highly
successful leadership development program has been running for nearly two decades.
In that time, Leadership Napa Valley has produced literally hundreds of individuals
who today serve as mayors, heads of community organizations, non-profits and volunteer
groups. Similar leadership training groups are operating effectively in Fairfield and
Vacaville, in Contra Costa and Alameda counties, and nationwide.
How does an individual get to take part
in the Leadership Vallejo program of education and training? Who is
eligible?
To be considered for
participation, interested individuals must first live or work in Vallejo
and demonstrate a history of community involvement and volunteerism.
They must fill out a
formal application form (which can be downloaded from the
website, or obtained from
Leadership Vallejo as indicated below). A committee of the Board will then review
applications and references and interview candidates before selecting up to
18 individuals to take part in the program.
What are the deadlines for applying and
selection, and what is the timetable for the program itself?
The first Leadership Vallejo program
concludes in the spring of 2008. Applications to participate in the 2008-2009
program are now being solicited and following review of applications and individual
interviews, the selection of participants will be completed by the end of July.
Deadline for Applications is May 15th.
If I am selected, what time commitment
is required on my part?
Participants should be prepared to dedicate
one weekday each month for a day-long meeting of education and training. They will also
be expected to devote additional time to personal study flowing from those sessions,
and to working with other program participants in small teams, each focused on a
community-need project of their choice.
If
I am chosen, what sort of skills and information will I gain as part of
the Leadership Vallejo program?
One element of the training involves
education – learning more about the history of the area, and the major issues
facing the Vallejo community and the region today. Participants will learn from
people involved in those fields – ranging from education, to local government
and community organization and development. They’ll gain a better understanding
of the diversity of the community and the hopes, challenges and aspirations of key
community groups and organizations. Finally, they will learn new skills in such
areas as public speaking, creating agendas and running meetings, effective listening,
and how to identify key issues and develop consensus. Check the Leadership Vallejo
website for detailed information on specific programs and program content undertaken
during our first class year.
Is there any cost to take part if I am
selected?
The overall tuition for the year-long
Leadership Vallejo program of education and training is $1,150. Of this amount,
the individual is required to pay at least $150 from their own resources. Class
members may also ask their own business or organization to provide support,
recognizing that the individual will be gaining new skills of potential benefit
to the company. Additional support is raised through contributions from enlightened
Vallejo and regional businesses and organizations which recognize the importance of
strong leadership skills to the community. Where there is a demonstrated need on the
part of an applicant, partial scholarship support and/or term payment plans may be
made available.
This sounds like a great program. If my
business would like to consider sponsorship or making an underwriting
grant to Leadership Vallejo, what is involved?
Contact Leadership Vallejo as indicated
below to learn more about program underwriting and how you can get involved.
Contributions can be monetary and/or in-kind services which help support the overall
program and individual monthly training sessions. Companies can also help underwrite
costs of a monthly program by signing up as a sponsor for that event. Contributions
to the program are tax deductible.
If my company makes a grant to the
program, can we be guaranteed that one of our employees will be selected
to take part?
No. Selection of participants is made
based on an assessment of the skills and commitment they demonstrate in their
application and references, and each individual will be weighed against all
applications received. As Leadership Vallejo moves forward, it is our hope to expand
annual class sizes to meet community needs.
For more information and application forms, contact:
Leadership Vallejo
427 York Street
Vallejo, CA 94590
707-644-5551
www.leadershipvallejo.com