Leadership Bloomington - Monroe County (LBMC) builds a stronger community by identifying a diverse cross-section of emerging leaders and preparing them for roles in shaping our future. Each year, people who are broadly representative of Bloomington and Monroe County participate in this leadership program to prepare for greater involvement in community life. To date, more than 800 local leaders have participated in this program.

You will learn leadership skills directly applicable to both your career and your community involvement as you interact with local experts and your classmates. The “classroom” is the community itself and the instructors are business, not-for-profit, and government leaders who place local issues into context. Through interactive learning you will acquire specific leadership skills, such as effective listening, problem solving, team building, and networking. Each session takes place at a site related to the day’s topic. Topics focus on aspects of community life: economic foundations, education, government, healthcare, and media communication, among others.

LBMC is a seven-month program that begins in October and ends in April. The program begins with an orientation and an alumni-hosted reception, and closes with group project presentations. Fourteen sessions are scheduled on alternate Thursday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon at various community locations. You will enjoy a special graduation and recognition dinner at the conclusion of the program.

You are expected to participate fully by attending each session. You must:

• Attend the orientation, project planning meeting, and final presentations.
  
  
• Attend a minimum of nine of the remaining 12 sessions held on alternating Thursdays from 8 a.m. to noon; be on time and stay for the entire session.
  
  
• Actively participate in your community project group, which will need to meet on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.

If you cannot currently meet the program’s time commitment, we encourage you to wait to apply until your schedule is more flexible.

The enrollment fee is $1,060, which includes all sessions, instructional materials, refreshments, application fee, and the graduation dinner.

The program application will be available in June 2013. Send a message to be added to the application mailing list.

The balance of $1,000 is due upon acceptance to the program. Since the number of participants in the program is limited to 35, applicants who are not selected are encouraged to reapply in subsequent years.

Several partial tuition awards are available to people who would not otherwise be able to participate in the program. Click here for an application. Tuition assistance requests are due with your application.

Programs of this type often qualify for fee reimbursement from employers. Check with your employer concerning partial or full reimbursement. Financial assistance may also be available from other community sources.

For more information, call 855-1182 or e-mail Kyla Cox at knblanke@indiana.edu.

Coming in June 2013

The Class of 2014 will begin on Friday, October 18, 2013 with an orientation. Sessions will take place on alternating Thursday mornings through April 2014.

Sessions will cover topics such as:

• Rediscover Your Community
• Visioning and Planning
• Project Management
• Innovation and Motivation
• Ethics in Leadership
• Diversity
• Community Media and Communication
• Education and Health
• Economic Foundations
• Our Local Government
• Social Service Networks