Are you interested in acquiring new skills and knowledge about community leadership? Or do you have those skills and want to help mentor others? Are you interested in enlarging your network of community-minded individuals and increasing your community’s social capital? Do you want to learn how to plan and implement a community project?

 If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be just the person we’re looking for!

The Ford Institute Leadership Program is accepting applications for their second year of leadership development training in the Applegate – Jacksonville area. The program is offered free of charge and includes all training materials and meals. Classes meet locally, and include four weekends (Friday 1:00 pm – 6:00 pm; Saturday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm) of training, as well as the planning and implementation of a class project. The classes focus on developing the community leadership capacity of individuals, with the training emphasizing an interactive and facilitative style rather than lectures. Subjects covered include understanding personality differences through the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, group dynamics, communication strategies, conflict management, asset mapping, community development models, social capital, leadership styles, decision-making, action planning, and more. Anyone – regardless of their leadership experience – is welcomed to apply to the program, although we do set the lower age limit at 14 years of age.

If you are interested in knowing more about this program, please visit the Ford Institute Leadership Program website at http://www.tfff.org/Institute/TheFordInstituteLeadershipProgram/tabid/89/Default.aspx.

You can view a short video on the program there, as well as download a printable brochure that gives more details about it.

 The deadline for applying to this program is June 30. Applications can be made online at the address given above, or you can request a hard copy application by calling Alicia Flory at 541-957-5574. The scheduled dates for classroom trainings are September 15-15, October 19-20, November 16-17, and December 14-15.

Please submit your applications as soon as possible!

If you have additional questions, please contact Donna Chickering at the e-mail address and/or phone number listed below.

Donna K. Chickering
Organizational Development Program Manager
Rural Development Initiatives, Inc.
Southern Oregon Field Office
541.472.0339 – office
541.441.6680 – cell
dchickering@rdiinc.org

Rural Development Initiatives, Inc. is an Oregon-based nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming rural communities in the Pacific Northwest by building the capacity of rural leaders, community groups, and collaborative partnerships to strategically select and successfully undertake economic and community development initiatives.