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Program and
Schedule
The Old
Dominion to the
New Virginia:
LEAD VIRGINIA
Offers
Perspective on
the Changing
Face of Virginia
Effective
leadership
requires
knowledge and
perspective.
Accordingly,
knowledge
incubates fresh
ideas and new
solutions.
Perspective then
informs
problem-solving
and
decision-making.
Leaders must
have a broad
perspective.
They must
understand how
events in the
past have shaped
the Commonwealth
and recognize
how emerging
trends and
realities will
shape future
challenges and
opportunities.
Social Capital
LEAD VIRGINIA’s
program is
grounded in the
theory of Social
Capital, as
described below
by Kenneth Ruscio, Ph.D.,
President of
Washington and
Lee University and an
active member of
LEAD VIRGINIA’s
Board of
Directors:
LEAD VIRGINIA seeks to build social capital—that intangible
resource in
modern society
that enables
people to come
together in an
environment of
trust in order
to promote the
common good. In
today’s world,
it is difficult
to achieve
change, to make
our communities
better, and to
solve the
problems we have
in common. By
enabling the
Commonwealth’s
leaders to
discuss their
perspectives
with each other,
by providing a
venue for them
to educate each
other about the
issues in their
communities, and
by raising the
level of
understanding
about the
challenges
facing our
regions, LEAD
VIRGINIA
will strengthen
our capacity to
work together.
We hope to build
trust. We hope
to create the
kind of social
capital that
will lower the
“transactions
costs” of
finding
solutions to the
problems facing
the
Commonwealth.
The social theorist James S. Coleman explains, “Social
capital…is
created when the
relations among
persons change
in ways that
facilitate
action.” And he
writes, “A group
whose members
manifest
trustworthiness
and place
extensive trust
in one another
will be able to
accomplish much
more than a
comparable group
lacking that
trustworthiness
and trust.”
LEAD VIRGINIA is
one approach to
developing trust
among
leaders—not
necessarily
agreement, for
there will
always be
differences, but
at least a
deeper
appreciation of
what others
consider
important and
why. For if true
leadership is
the ability to
understand the
needs and
interests of
those we serve,
then there must
be opportunities
for leaders to
acquire that
broader
perspective.
LEAD VIRGINIA is
one of those
opportunities.
Program
LEAD VIRGINIA’s
program offers
an annual
sequence of
seven monthly
program
sessions, each
located in a
different region
of the state.
One class of
approximately 40
participants
goes through the
entire program
together each
year, beginning
with an
orientation
session in April
and concluding
with a
graduation gala
and alumni
brunch in
November. The
Class of 2008
includes 44
participants.
The program is
designed to
challenge
pre-conceived
perceptions and
invite
evaluation
through a focus
on present
realities in
each of the
regions.
Participants
increase their
knowledge and
understanding of
issues and build
the social
capital
necessary to
LEAD VIRGINIA
forward. The
program broadens
the perspectives
of participants,
thereby
expanding their
capacity to
collaborate,
manage conflict,
and lead in
changing
environments.
Curriculum
LEAD VIRGINIA
participants
explore and
grapple with
major issues,
challenges, and
opportunities
facing our
Commonwealth.
The program
features a
vibrant
curriculum with
lively
presentations,
engaging case
studies/analyses,
in-depth
dialogues/debates
on timely
issues, on-site
field studies
and experiential
activities.
Sessions are
developed by
Regional
Curriculum
Committees under
the guidance of
John P. Thomas,
D.P.A., Director
of the Weldon
Cooper Center
for Public
Service at the
University of
Virginia and
Program/Curriculum
Committee Chair
for LEAD
VIRGINIA’s Board
of Directors.
Regional
Program-Curriculum
Co-Chairs
work with
committees
representing
academic,
business, civic,
and diverse
interests from
each region.
Each session
targets specific
topics from a
range of key
issues.
Curriculum
Themes and
Perspectives
An overarching
curriculum theme
is the Old
Dominion to New
Virginia with
fresh insights
on the changing
face of
Virginia.
Specific
curriculum
themes for the
Class of
2007 are
local/regional
economies,
transportation,
and education.
These themes are
examined from
five primary
perspectives:
technology,
economic
development,
demographics,
growth
management, and
quality of life.
Program
Schedule,
Session Agendas
and Presenter
Biographies
The
2008 Program
Schedule
is well
underway, and
the
2009 Program
Schedule
begins with the
Opening/Orientation
Session, April
16-18, 2009 in
Williamsburg and
concludes in
Richmond,
November 19-21,
2009.
2008 Session
Agendas
and
2008 Presenter
Biographies (when
available) are
posted on the
LEAD VIRGINIA
web site as each
session occurs.
Our photo
galleries
provide a visual
record of our
experience.
List-Serve for
Participants
Suggested
readings from
presenters,
hotel
information,
directions/maps,
and other
pertinent
communications
are provided to
each participant
prior to each
session through
a list-serve.
This password
protected
list-serve is
for the
exclusive use of
class
participants and
LEAD VIRGINIA
staff. It is
used throughout
the program for
dialogue among
class
participants, to
share class news
and views,
supplemental
readings,
information and
other materials,
and to archive
class
communications
for future
reference.
Participants
continue to have
list-serve
privileges after
graduation and
find it an
excellent means
of staying in
touch with each
other,
networking, and
building social
capital.
FAQ’s
Q:
Do LEAD
VIRGINIA
participants
have mandatory
group community
service or other
projects, such
as those
frequently
required of
community
leadership
program
participants?
A:
No. LEAD
VIRGINIA’s
program does not
require group
projects or
other
assignments
outside of
program
sessions. The
“Suggested
Readings”
provided by some
presenters in
advance of their
presentations
are helpful to
understanding
the issues, but
not mandatory.
Q:
Does LEAD
VIRGINIA provide
leadership skill
development?
A:
LEAD VIRGINIA’s
curriculum
differs
dramatically
from many
community and
other leadership
programs by
focusing
exclusively on
substantive
issue-related
content, rather
than skill
development.
LEAD VIRGINIA’s
participants are
already proven
and recognized
leaders in their
own geographic
areas and
occupational
arenas and come
to LEAD
VIRGINIA’s
program with
highly developed
leadership
skills. LEAD
VIRGINIA’s
mission is to
enhance their
capacity for
civic engagement
through
developing a
broader and
deeper
understanding of
key issues
facing the
Commonwealth and
to develop a
network of
relationships
with other
leaders
statewide.
Q:
How does LEAD
VIRGINIA’s
program differ
from other
statewide
leadership
programs?
A:
LEAD VIRGINIA
prepares leaders
for enhanced
civic engagement
that may, or may
not, be
expressed
through elective
office. LEAD
VIRGINIA
graduates may
prefer to work
toward improving
the quality of
life in the
Commonwealth
through other
avenues in their
communities or
occupational
fields or
through
statewide
organizations or
boards. For
those interested
in pursuing a
role in
political life,
there are other
institutions,
such as the
Sorensen
Institute for
Political
Leadership, with
that specific
mission. Some
individuals
choose to
participate in
more than one
statewide
leadership
program,
recognizing that
the missions of
these programs
are not mutually
exclusive and
that there is
unique value in
each. |
