Healthy communities through collaborative leadership…


OUR MISSION
Leadership Whatcom develops a diverse network of skillful, informed, collaborative leaders who facilitate the renewal and connection of our communities.

OUR VISION
Strong, resilient, unique communities cooperating through inspired, diverse leadership.

 Apply Now!

Deadline extended to accommodate up to 30 participants!
Applications for the 2008-2009 program year
are now being accepted. 

Program runs September, 2008-June 2009,
meeting one full Friday per month.

2008-2009 Program Applications.

About Leadership Whatcom
As Whatcom County grows and changes at a rapid pace, we need passionate and informed leaders who have the skills to work together to ensure that our communities are healthy, vibrant places to live, work and play for all. The right time for a local leadership development program is now. We face increasingly complex economic, cultural, social, and natural resource challenges with limited financial resources. Inspired and diverse leadership is more critical than ever in our communities.

We need to give people experience in working together to solve complex community problems by encouraging communication that respects different points of view while looking for the common ground that leads to healthy solutions. Leadership Whatcom can build relationships and skills that will lead to a more connected community."

- Pete Kremen, County Executive
Whatcom County, Washington

Leadership Whatcom was formed in 2004 as an initiative of the Whatcom Coalition for Healthy Communities. The program launched in September, 2005 with 21 participants.  This community-focused leadership program is a 10-month adult leadership course bringing together a unique mix of existing and emerging leaders from each of the communities in Whatcom County. Participants with diverse perspectives, experience and skills from all economic, cultural and geographic sectors of Whatcom County make this experience invaluable for those involved and for Whatcom County. Program participants will increase their knowledge of community issues and develop their skills in collaborative leadership.  This program will also encourage creative partnerships with the capacity to identify innovative solutions to complex community problems.

The heart of this leadership program is the development of a learning community that explores community issues and supports individual participant’s learning necessary for informed and inclusive leadership. Participants will challenge themselves and each other to grow personally in their own leadership and communication styles while completing team projects and participating in sessions that provide practical learning experiences. This is a program where people will work together to create a community, to learn about themselves and to become strong and effective community leaders.

The guiding principles of Leadership Whatcom are:

  • Appreciate how local issues and institutions interconnect
  • Learn as a community
  • Transcend partisanship
  • Foster civil discussion
  • Foster respect and understanding within and among our diverse communities
  • Develop collaborative attitudes and skills to find common ground
  • Broaden the base and diversity of leaders in our communities
  • Create opportunities for development of leadership self-awareness, assessment and growth
  • Integrate study, planning, action, assessment, and adjustment
  • Action is essential

Applications are now available for 2008-2009 program!

“Leadership Whatcom brings diverse people together. Its program enhances each participant’s personal understanding of the diversity of Whatcom County, its people and their concerns and ideas for achieving healthy community life."

- Dave Oreiro, VP
Northwest Indian College