A new study by the University of Georgia Fanning Institute shows that community leadership programs are helping to support economic viability in Georgia’s rural counties. The report—Georgia’s Community Leadership Initiative—was released today at the Georgia Rural Development Council’s 8th Annual Leadership Day program in Atlanta.
“Broad-based community leadership is critical to building and maintaining a community’s ability to respond to the state, national and global changes that alter local opportunities,” said Michael A. Beatty, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, in the foreword to the report.
In 2002, the Georgia Rural Development Council started the Community Leadership Initiative to broaden the state’s leadership base and build local capacity to address social and economic issues in communities. The initiative provides seed-grants on a competitive basis to rural counties that lack sustained leadership development programs. Today’s report examines the results of the initiative’s first five years (2002 to 2007).
During that period, 94 rural counties received 184 grants and more than 3,200 Georgians completed grant-supported training. Program graduates devoted more than 96,000 hours to improving their skills and learning about their community’s problems, assets and resources.
Participants said the program improved their ability to build partnerships, facilitate discussions, manage conflict, find solutions to problems in group settings, and other leadership skills.
In 75 percent of the counties that received grants, graduates became more involved in their communities—running for elected office, leading local task forces to address community problems, and serving on local boards for community groups such as downtown development authorities, economic development authorities, and philanthropic organizations. Some 46 percent of participants immediately assumed leadership roles as officers, committee chairs and organizers.
The Community Leadership Initiative increased program activity in 70 percent of the grant receiving counties and the number of self-sustaining programs increased by 47 percent during the five-year period.
The complete report is available at www.fanning.uga.edu.
The GRDC Community Leadership Initiative now is funded by OneGeorgia, administered by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, and managed by the Fanning Institute at the University of Georgia.
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Monday, February 9, 2009
UGA Fanning Institute Reports on a Leadership Development Program for Rural Georgia
Friday, May 30, 2008
Pathbuilders, Inc. Launches 20th Achieva® Class: A Leadership Development Program for Women
BUSINESS WIRE--High-performing professional women have been selected from 30 metro Atlanta companies to participate in Pathbuilders’ 2008 Achieva® class, a year-long professional development program designed for mid-level executive women with senior executive potential. Pathbuilders kicked off its 20th Achieva class on May 13 at the Omni Hotel at the CNN Center.
“Over these 20 classes, we have positively impacted 300 companies and more than 2500 women,” said Helene Lollis, president of Pathbuilders. “This year, 13 executive-level women from Fortune-ranked organizations, who were themselves mentees in earlier classes, are serving as mentors in the program. A record 85 percent of our mentors are returning to participate in this year’s programs.”
Achieva includes one-on-one external mentoring with a senior executive to create a deep, professional relationship that challenges each participant to dramatically expand her perspectives.
“Much of the reward I take away from being a mentor is having the opportunity to personally impact the growth of an upwardly mobile woman,” said Jacqui Welch, six-time mentor, 1998 class alumna and vice president of Employee and Organizational Effectiveness at Rock-Tenn Company. “My relationships with my mentees have broadened my perspectives and have provided me with invaluable insights into my own organization.”
The program also includes educational sessions and peer networking to help position each woman as an influential leader within her organization. Participants learn how to build their executive presence, develop more strategic views and lead their companies toward greater success.
Pathbuilders offers professional development and mentoring programs designed to address each of the four key stages in a woman’s professional career:
- InsigniaSM focuses on entry-level women, up to two years into their careers.
- PerceptaSM is tailored for junior-executive women learning to manage people and projects.
- Achieva® is comprised of mid-level, high-potential women, recognized as having senior-executive potential in their organizations.
- Inspiria® is designed for senior-level women leading and setting vision for their organizations.
Mentees in the 2008 Achieva program are sponsored by the following organizations:
AT&T Corporation
Avon Products, Inc.
Ceridian Corporation
Cisco Systems, Inc.
Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc.
Deloitte
Ernst & Young LLP
Georgia Power, a Southern Company
Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc.
Heatcraft Refrigeration Products, LLC
Holder Construction Company
InfiCorp Holdings, Inc.
InterContinental Hotels Group
Kimberly-Clark Corporation
KPMG LLP
McKesson Provider Technologies
Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce
Munich American Reassurance Company
NCR Corporation
Oglethorpe Power Corporation
Piedmont Healthcare
ProCore Solutions
RBC Bank
Rock-Tenn Company
Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
Solvay Advanced Polymers LLC
Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Southern Company
The Weather Channel Interactive, Inc.
Verizon Wireless
