Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who are you?
   The Community Leadership Association is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, founded in 1979, dedicated to nurturing leadership in communities throughout the United States and internationally. We represent over 1000 such programs, mostly in the US but now being developed throughout the world. At this point, there are nearly 1,000,000 graduates of such programs, all working to positively support and impact their community.
   
   
2. What is your Mission?
   The mission of The Community Leadership Association is to enhance the capacity of local, state, regional, national and international community leadership programs to strengthen and serve their communities.
   
   
3. What is a Community Leadership Development Program (CLDP)?
   In general such a program is a 9 month adventure in learning about yourself, your community, its past, its future, its challenges, who is working currently to address these challenges and how an individual can become involved in addressing community issues, particularly one(s) of interest to the program participant.
   
   Some programs focus on content, some on skills development, and some on both. Most are concerned with the leadership development of an individual interested in being of service to the community.
   
   Programs generally begin with a retreat, then engage in ˝ or 1 day sessions examining areas such as government, social services, education, economic development, community issues, arts & culture, etc. There is also usually a “commencement” ceremony indicating the completion of the program and the beginning of the participant’s new or additional involvement in the community.
   
   
4. Who creates and staffs these programs?
   About half the programs are based within the local Chamber of Commerce. The other half are run as independent programs, potentially housed within a Chamber, a United Way, a Community Foundation or an educational institution. Participants are nominated for involvement, and an application is generally required. There is a selection process for admittance to a given year’s class. Classes are chosen by current civic leaders and alumni of the program.
   
   Most programs are staffed by leadership development professionals, either by training or long years of experience in the field. They are supported by volunteers from previous leadership classes, civic leaders and education and consulting professionals.
   
   
5. What types of Programs are there?
   Here is a typical breakout of program by type:
   • Youth – Elementary school through university undergraduate levels.
     
   • Early Career adult – focused on community data, information; no personal, professional skills development.
   • Early Career adult – focused on community data, information;, some personal, professional skills development.
   • Mid Career Adult – focused on personal, professional skills development; little or no content.
   • Mid Career Adult – focused on professional, team skills development – issue oriented.
   • Senior Executive Programs – introduce new executives to community.
   • Senior (Third Age) Adult – focused on issues of interest to seniors.
   Communities decide for themselves which type of programs they will operate and which programs they will support in their community.
   
   
6. How much do such programs cost to attend?
   Costs vary widely, depending on what the program is working to accomplish. Content only programs may only charge between $100 and $500, $1000 for the program. Complex skills development for issue-oriented teams programs may charge in the $5,000 per person range. Some large city programs have tuition fees of $10,000 to $15,000/person.
   
   
7. What is a typical class like in terms of composition?
   Generally communities try to create a class which is "representative" of the community. So each class drawn from the community is mixed in terms of ethnic origin, gender, age, professional work environment, occupational choice, etc.
   
   
8. What do you as an association provide to these programs?
   Principally we provide ways for these programs to learn about the best practices in leadership development and best practices in running a leadership program. We accomplish this through three mechanisms:
   1. We hold an annual conference for all such programs, generally in the Spring. At that conference we focus on certain themes and invite recognized thought leaders to address these themes. We also have workshop presentations, panels and open forums where those involved in the running of such programs or serving on the Boards which oversee such programs have the opportunity to learn and exchange ideas on the improvement of these programs.
   2. We provide resource materials – how to set up and run a program, how to use concepts such as trusteeship and/or servant leadership within their program; and,
   3. We offer programs and training through regional events which might focus on any of four areas – leading thinkers about leadership; 21st century leadership skills development; best practices in leadership development; and, best practices in operating a leadership program.
   
   
   
9. What has been your greatest success, so far?
   We have helped many communities learn how to create the leadership they need to successfully adapt themselves to the world they face and the issues with which they must deal. We certainly are not finished with this work but we are well begun. We make a difference to the local programs working to create leaders. And these programs have made significant contributions to their community. In various evaluation studies, most communities recognize they would be in far worse circumstances if they did not have such a mechanism for developing the leadership they require to face the future.
   
   
10. How do I get more information?
    For more information, please contact the CLA staff. CLA is managed by Next Wave Group, LLC, in Severna Park, MD. Next Wave Group, LLC is an association management firm.