LNI Home About LNI Contact LNI Leadership Program Board of Directors Staff Current Classes Alumni Dues Alumni Activities and Events Alumni in the News Applications & Nominations Newsletters Donations Sponsors and Partners Log in		Leadership Program Leadership can be defined as taking responsibility for our communities and making them better through public action. One goal of Leadership Northwest Indiana is to develop a source of informed civic-oriented volunteer leaders who are interested in helping to direct the future of Northwest Indiana. Overview Through a structured ten-month program, participants will be provided the opportunity to learn more about the characteristics, resources, needs and potential in Northwest Indiana. Class members will be challenged to increase their knowledge and gain valuable new perspectives through interaction with business and community leaders. The curriculum is developed from the information provided in the Quality of Life Indicators Report published by the Northwest Indiana Quality of Life Council along with other timely issues. Topics for the coming program year include: Orientation / Leadership Skills Development A Community that Appreciates the Arts and Celebrates Life The opening session is held over a day and half. On Thursday afternoon following the introduction of class participants and an orientation of the program, the LNI Board of Directors will join the class at dinner. The next day, team building and leadership development will be explored. A Leadership Skills Set Analysis is used to help participants understand their own leadership traits and how they might better function in group settings. Following lunch, the class takes a look at the issues they feel are pertinent to Northwest Indiana leading into the first QLC Indicator on how our community appreciates the arts and celebrates life. A Community in Balance with its Environment Regional Bus Tour An all day bus tour of Lake and Porter Counties, intended to familiarize participants with the diversity of the region from the industrial/urban areas in the northern portion of Lake and Porter Counties along the lakeshore to the agriculture/rural areas in the southern part of the counties. Time constraints do not permit a complete tour, but feature the highlights of Northwest Indiana with an emphasis on the environment. A Thriving Community & A Community of Opportunity Economic Development and Disparity This session will provide valuable information pertaining to the current economic development in NW Indiana and what is on the horizon for the region. Participants will attend the annual Economic Outlook Breakfast followed by a discussion of important economic issues including labor statistics and significant disparity evident in Northwest Indiana with the QLC recommendations for coordinating economic development in the region. A Learning Community Educational Attainment, Outcomes, Risk Factors Education is perhaps more central to the idea of a high quality of life than any other variable and is closely associated with opportunities. The focus of this session is on primary and secondary education, more specifically in public education, and its role in the well being of Northwest Indiana. School administrators, educators and students will discuss current issues in community schools, business/education partnerships and alternative school settings. A visit to an alternative school is normally included. A Community of Engaged and Caring Citizens Government, Public Finance, Philanthropy, Citizenship The first half of the day focuses on citizenship and the concept of civic responsibility. A mock town council meeting is held in which participants get to play a role in municipal government. As a follow-up, the class will visit the Indiana State Legislature, meeting legislators from Northwest Indiana and sitting in on Committee Hearings and/or watching a Legislative Session. This all day bus trip is usually scheduled in February. A Diverse Community Population, Race, Ethnicity, Households This session will examine the many components that are so central to the fabric of Northwest Indiana including population demographics, race and ethnicity, and the makeup of households in NWI. An activity with the Race Relations Council of Northwest Indiana is being planned for the session as well. An Accessible Community of Open & Viable Neighborhoods Planning, Land Use, Transportation Transportation is both the lifeblood of the region and the bane of commuters for two important reasons, traffic congestion and access to mass transit. The goal of this session is to familiarize participants with the critical urban development and transportation issues facing Northwest Indiana. A Healthy and Safe Community Healthcare, Social Services, Law Enforcement This session is divided into two parts to provide an overview of healthcare and social services plus law enforcement, two distinct yet related subjects. Healthcare is a particularly difficult issue to analyze on a regional basis due to the fragmentation that is currently in place in addition to the policies invoked by the federal government. The second part of the day will focus on measures adopted to counter crime or “the perception of crime.” A Community that Communicates Media Outlets and Northwest Indiana Image The focus of this session is to address the uniqueness of media in NW Indiana and how we can utilize the media to create a more positive image of the region. Hands-on exercises in television filming and newspaper editing have been included in the past. We will also explore the tourism business in Northwest Indiana. Graduation Luncheon This is an opportunity for class participants to feel good about their accomplishments over the last ten months. In the morning program participants will attend the Quality of Life Council Quarterly Meeting and be introduced. Following the meeting, an evaluation of the program will be facilitated. Recognition will be given to the class members in addition to honored guests at the luncheon. Session Structure Each session is held all day, one day each month, from September through May and from February through November. The bus trip to the Indiana State Legislature is scheduled for February. Graduation will be held on the first Fridays in June and December respectively. Since part of the mission of this program is to acquaint you with as much of Northwest Indiana as possible, the session locations will vary from month to month. Instructions as to meeting locations and specific agendas will be sent to you prior to the session. In some cases, transportation will be provided; otherwise, you will drive on your own. The sessions generally begin at 8 a.m. and end by 4:30 p.m. Participants are expected to be on time for each session. Each session will include discussions/ presentations, hands-on activities, and tours. Time will be allowed to reflect on the day. As a class participant, attendance is required at all sessions as stated on the application form completed prior to the start of the program. A copy of the Attendance Policy will be included in your information. Caveat Emptor Be advised that all of the above is subject to change due to the availability of speakers and facilities. In addition, we like to be responsive to the class participants’ comments and suggestions, which may result in making “in-flight” changes. Lastly, those who coordinate each program (or others involved in the program) may wish to try something different – and to keep enthusiasm going, we occasionally may make a radical change.