MISSION: To prepare, empower, and activate a statewide cohort of leaders to engage in their local communities differently and be motivated to seek collaborative, solution-focused approaches to challenges that are negatively impacting state and local communities.
WHAT: The curriculum for the Community Leadership 2.0 program will focus heavily on advanced leadership skill development in areas such as collaborative decision making; issue analysis and assessment; advocacy and persuasion, etc. in the context of the focus topic – Early Care and Education. Experts and practitioners from across the state will provide valuable content, offer insights, and prompt deep thinking, planning and action.
WHEN: Second Thursday of the month, February 2025 – October 2025. The format for monthly session days will include a combination of in-person gatherings, virtual meetings, small group sessions, and local community research days through the course of the 9-month program. The program will launch with a mandatory 1.5 day, in-person retreat in Madison and other in-person sessions will take place in Green Bay and La Crosse. See schedule below.
TIME COMMITMENT: Class time for regular sessions is 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., opening and closing retreat days will have extended hours. The February, June, and October sessions will be held in-person, as noted below. All remaining sessions will be held virtually using the Zoom platform. Additional work in your local community between sessions will be required as part of the group learning lab/hands-on element of the program. Program participants must commit to not missing more than 1.5 sessions for successful completion of the program.
COST: $1950/person. This special tuition pricing for the Pilot Cohort of the Wisconsin Community Leadership Intensive includes accommodations and meals for the three in-person sessions and program materials. All other expenses, including mileage, will be covered by participant.
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Sept. 2024Pre-session
Applications open
May 8, 2025Session 03
Virtual
Oct. 2024Pre-session
Virtual info sessionsPhone interviews
*June 12-13, 2025Session 04
In Person – Green BayBegins at noon, Wed, Feb. 12 Ends at 4:00 p.m. Thurs. Feb. 13
Nov. 2024 – Jan. 2025Pre-session
Application period closes (11/15/24)Selection process complete (12/15/24)Class material distribution & prep
**July 17, 2025Session 05
Virtual **note: only session not on the 2nd Thursday.
*Feb. 12-13, 2025Opening Retreat
In-person – Madison Begins at noon, Wed, Feb. 12 Ends at 4:00 p.m. Thurs. Feb. 13
Aug. 14, 2025Session 06
Virtual
March 13, 2025Session 01
Virtual
Sept. 11, 2025Session 07
Virtual
April 10, 2025Session 02
Virtual
*Oct. 8-9, 2025Closing Retreat & Graduation
In-person – La Crosse Begins at noon, Wed, Oct. 8 Ends at 4:00 p.m., Thurs. Oct.
The best way to find out if the program is a good fit for you is by scheduling a 15-minute call with program director Lynn Wood. Schedule by emailing lwood@wcgpr.com or fill out the application form here.
THE WISCONSIN COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP INTENSIVE EXPERIENCE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
MISSION: To prepare, empower, and activate a statewide cohort of leaders to engage in their local communities differently andbe motivated to seek collaborative, solution-focused approaches to challenges that are negatively impacting state and localcommunities while learning to capitalize on available opportunities.
WHAT IS COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP 2.0? Community Leadership 2.0 is a 9-month program for a statewide cohort of dedicated current and future leaders. This Wisconsin Community Leadership Intensive Experience brought to you by Leadership Wisconsin is a dynamic and impactful program designed to help participants develop advanced leadership skills using an intensive focus on a single issue of statewide importance that will serve as the “learning lab.”
WHO IS ELIGIBLE? Anyone who has graduated from a local community leadership development program within the state of Wisconsin or completed a comparable program elsewhere is welcome to apply for Community Leadership 2.0. If you are interested but have not yet participated in a local leadership program, you are encouraged to connect with a local community leadership development program and begin there. Dozens of such programs operate across the state including those that are affiliated with chambers of commerce, universities, technical schools, or privately run programs.
WHAT IS THE TIME COMMITMENT? The pilot program will kick off in February 2025 and will run monthly through October 2025. The cohort will use a hybrid model that includes six virtual learning sessions using the Zoom platform in addition to three in-person gatherings in Madison, Green Bay, and Racine. In addition, local research and community engagement will be required as part of the “learning lab” format that connects statewide issues with local activity. It is estimated an additional 20-30 hours will be required through the course of the program for community-based activity to supplement the monthly learning sessions.
WHAT IS THE COST? The February 2025 pilot class is being offered at a discounted tuition rate of $1950, which includes travel-related expenses for three in-person sessions. It is anticipated that tuition for subsequent cohorts will be $3,500 – $4,000.
WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF PARTICIPATING? Graduates of local community leadership programs have already shown a commitment to learning, connection, and service. The Community Leadership 2.0 opportunity allows them to build on that foundation by growing their knowledge base, developing advanced leadership skills, and providing more hands-on opportunities to enhance their impact on statewide issues. The program will also expand participants’ network with a diverse group of peers.
HOW DOES THE PROGRAM DELIVER ADVANCED LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT? The program offers a dynamic curriculum that emphasizes both essential leadership skills—such as problem-solving, advocacy, collaborative decision-making, civility, etc. —and a comprehensive exploration of a major issue affecting communities across the state. Participants will deepen their knowledge, collaborate with a diverse cohort of colleagues, and analyze this issue from both macro and micro perspectives. Through engagement with subject-matter experts, practitioners, policymakers, and educators from across the state, participants will gain valuable insights. The cohort will co-create a rich learning experience, drawing upon their lived experiences and the collective expertise shared throughout the program. Together, they will work toward developing actionable strategies for community impact.
WHAT TOPIC WILL THE PILOT CLASS FOCUS ON FOR ITS “LEARNING LAB?” The 2025 pilot class of Community Leadership 2.0 will do a deep dive into the issue of Early Care and Education in the state of Wisconsin. Through this lens, participants will learn about the challenges caused by the current early care and education system in Wisconsin and will roll up your sleeves to assess what is working, how the most impactful efforts can be scaled, and how policy, decision-making, advocacy and awareness all come together to impact the outcome of our state’s early care and education system.
WHAT ARE THE IDEAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP 2.0 PARTICIPANT? The ideal candidates will:
o Have actively participated in and graduated from a local community leadership program.
o Have some expertise, passion, or strong interest in the focus topic.
o Have demonstrated a high level of engagement and commitment to their local leadership experience and have expressed an interest in doing more/growing.
o Have the commitment and dedication to attend and fully participate in/engage with the program.
o Aspire to put their leadership skills to work in the community(ies) in which they live, work, and play.
WHO IS RUNNING THE PROGRAM? The Community Leadership 2.0 program is being run and facilitated by Leadership Wisconsin, Inc., the state’s premier leadership development organization with a national reputation for training visionary, yet pragmatic leaders who are bound by public need and not political persuasion. Leadership Wisconsin is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is building a stronger Wisconsin through increased leadership capacity. The organization does this by seeking out innovative and collaborative strategies that promote and invest in the ability of leaders to address community and organizational challenges.
Over its 30-year history, Leadership Wisconsin, Inc. and its predecessor Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program, have strived to develop a solid and important network of stakeholders and constituents who care about and are invested in both the legacy and the future of Wisconsin. In addition to launching Community Leadership 2.0 to support the work of local leadership programs, Leadership Wisconsin also partners with the Wisconsin Counties Association to facilitate the Local Government Leadership Academy. Additionally, Leadership Wisconsin has partnered with the University of Wisconsin- Division of Extension and the LaFollette School for Public Policy to endow a faculty chair of Leadership Development at UW-Madison to ensure Wisconsin remains on the cutting edge of community leadership development.
HOW DO I APPLY? If you would like to be part of the Community Leadership 2.0 pilot cohort, simply fill out and submit the application here. Before doing so, you will need to have the support and approval of your employer as well as a commitment to attend all sessions. Upon receiving your application, program coordinators will reach out to you to set up a brief phone interview. The application deadline is November 15, 2024, and cohort selection will take place by Dec. 15, 2024.
Leadership Wisconsin’s mission is to prepare, empower and activate a statewide cohort of leaders to engage in their local communities differently and be motivated to seek collaborative, solution-focused approaches to challenges that are negatively impacting the state and their local areas, while learning how to capitalize on opportunities that are available.
Leadership Wisconsin is pleased to introduce its new advanced statewide leadership development program designed to catapult motivated, high-potential leaders from across the state into solution-based collaboration that will have significant impact on issues that matter.
The “Community Leadership 2.0” program is available exclusively to those thousands of individuals across the state who have benefited from one of several esteemed local community development programs. These alumni have the skills, awareness and demonstrated commitment to roll up their sleeves and make a difference. They’re ready for advanced leadership training and opportunities and this program will inspire and prepare them even further to engage.
The best way to find out if the program is a good fit for you is by scheduling a 15-minute call with program director Lynn Wood. Schedule by emailing lwood@wcgpr.com .
