Early in the summer of 2002, The Ford Family Foundation, based in Oregon, contacted Co-Director Vicki Luther and requested a proposal to develop a community leadership program curriculum that could be delivered in Oregon. The Foundation was eager to have the Heartland Center design the training sessions and create the training materials. An Oregon-based service provider will handle logistics, promotion and the actual delivery of the training program.

"Serving as the editor for this curriculum team was definitely a challenge. I learned a lot about community leadership from the content and at the same time had to be the 'detail police' and keep everyone on the time line."

Reggi Carlson

A curriculum development team was organized and led by Vicki Luther. She recruited Peter Hille, director of the Brushy Fork Institute at Berea, Kentucky, and Lynn Youngbar, an Oregon-based rural development specialist to be part of the team. "The team had to have skills in adult education and hands-on experience in rural community programs. That, of course, is in addition to being able to deliver on a deadline!" Vicki added, "We worked together well and learned a lot from one another."

"The team had to have skills in adult education and hands-on experience in rural community programs. That, of course, is in addition to being able to deliver on a deadline! We worked together well and learned a lot from one another."

Vicki Luther

The Foundation had provided several parameters for the training program. First, the program had to be highly practical and recognize rural issues. Secondly, the program had to include a team project focused on community improvement. And, lastly, a field trip to the state capital in Salem was to be part of the program. The decision was also made to offer each community team a mini-grant for their project that would require local dollars as a match. This last aspect was to offer experience in local fund-raising. In addition, the Foundation staff had conducted local research, including focus groups, to identify learner needs and interests.

The team divided the topics into four major sections: Discovery; Leadership Skills and Process; Networks, Relationships and Resources, and Outreach and Next Steps. While each team member drafted some parts of the materials, all participated in the editing and research involved. Since the work was done by team members in Oregon, Nebraska and Kentucky, electronic communication served as a major component along with weekly telephone conferences. The curriculum developed into a 60 contact hour series.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the program was the use of the community project. In each and every session, participants will be working on the identification, goal-setting, action-plan and evaluation of a local community improvement project. The project, then, serves as the direct and immediate application of leadership development theory and techniques.

For more information about curriculum or the development process, contact Vicki Luther at the Heartland Center.