Leadership Fort Wayne is preparing for our 27^th year! I can’t believe how fast this past year has gone.  As we get ready to welcome our newest cohort of community leaders we will continue to build on our past success and introduce a new emphasis on specific leadership skills to benefit each LFW participant personally and professionally. 

These changes are the direct result of discussions with our corporate sponsors, grantors, participants, board members and alumni who all agree that LFW is an important component of bringing about positive community change through leadership engagement and community service, but that it also must continue to provide relevant and useful programming for all stakeholders.  

As such we spent our summer vacation evaluating and researching the skills that will be must useful for LFW participants and their communities in the 21^st Century.

Please take a minute to review and if you are interested in participating in a personal assessment of these skills you are invited to contact Ellen or me.

Becoming 21^st Century Leader –

• Accountability to stakeholders & constituencies
• Trust Building: Ethics, Integrity, Humility
• Transformational Leadership vs Transactional Leadership

Visionary Leadership Skills (Being a Pioneer for Change) –

• Creating and communicating the vision
• Planning (Resources)  and goal setting
• Applying the vision (Implementation)

Critical Thinking and Decision Making Skills

• Anatomy of Decision Making
• Appreciative Inquiry
• Emotional Intelligence
• Problem Solving
• Collaboration Skills Group process techniques
• Team building and project management Negotiating, consensus and team management 

Conflict Management Skills -  

• What causes conflict? (Diversity, Experiences, Beliefs, Sensitivities)
• Listening, collaborating and yielding
• The leaders role In conflict resolution

 Communication and Connection Skills

• Clear articulation of issues, problems and viewpoint
• Storytelling
• Listening and giving feedback
• Networking

 Research and consultation with pother premier leadership development programs indicate that these are the skills that transcend both personally and professionally. It is a focus that is intended to provide rigorous and relevant information that will serve our leadership development participants well who in turn will serve our communities well in return. 

 For LFW Alums, as always you are invited to join us on any class day or for any presentation. All we ask is that you send us an e-mail or call to let us know what day you plan to attend. Mark your calendar to join us at the Fort Wayne Country Club on September 16, 2010 at 5:45 PM to welcome the LFW Class of 2011. (Be sure to RSVP to wilheljk@ipfw.edu  when you get your e-mail invitation. 

Enjoy these last few weeks of summer!

– Cheri Becker

Fort Wayne City Council members voted in favor of introducing a resolution for the Fort Wayne Cultural District, Tuesday.

The Fort Wayne Cultural District is a collaborative partnership between Arts United, the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (CVB), the Downtown Improvement District (DID) and the City of Fort Wayne. 

The impetus for this partnership is the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) Cultural District Program, which asks communities with an interest in creating a state recognized district to apply through their municipality. A unique aspect to the Fort Wayne Cultural District are the four partnering organizations that have been promoting and organizing arts and culture on their own.

“I am excited by the process and the opportunity the Cultural District presents for Fort Wayne,” Jim Sparrow, Executive Director of Arts United said. “The cooperative partnerships that form the anchor for the Cultural District’s long term sustainability are essential for its success. This will align the momentum of multiple organizations around community cultural initiatives helping to sustain our ability to make progress in areas such as a public art plan, gallery development downtown and marketing our cultural assets and downtown as a draw for the region.”

The designation of the Fort Wayne Cultural District does not include any public funding at this time.  This will allow for the partnering organizations to leverage their own programs and funding towards the shared larger goal of a thriving and vital arts community in downtown Fort Wayne.

“Designating Fort Wayne’s Cultural District goes a long way to promote the collaboration of the arts and humanities which are unique to our community while also supporting community life and economic vitality.” Jeanne Mirro, Chairperson of the Indiana Arts Commission and Fort Wayne resident, said.  

The Fort Wayne Cultural District will reside within the same boundaries as the Downtown Improvement District and will bolster community efforts to revitalize Fort Wayne’s urban core. It is hoped to accomplish some of the goals set for downtown in Blue Print Plus and other community plans.

“The arts and cultural institutions have long been one of the strongest assets in downtown Fort Wayne, and an asset that we have underutilized.  Establishing a Cultural District both acknowledges the arts and cultural institutions as the anchor for downtown that they are, and, literally, puts them on the map.” Paula Hughes, President of the Allen County Council, said.

The immediate benefits of this designation are predominantly local.  However, the Fort Wayne Cultural District will also act as a regional hub and give the outlying areas access to an increased number of cultural experiences. This increase in cultural activity will be a beneficial economic development tool.

The cultural district structure aligns with Vision 2020′s model for Northeast Indiana.  This model responds to the need for an enhanced quality of life that will allow Fort Wayne to attract higher paying jobs created by new industry.

Mike Packnett, President and CEO of Parkview Health said, ”The Fort Wayne Cultural District is a needed structure in Northeast Indiana’s vibrant cultural landscape.  I am pleased to see these organizations taking the initiative to partner in this manner as it is in direct alignment with Vision 2020s goals in regards to Quality of Life.”

Wednesday, June 23rd saw what some are calling the largest pep rally Northeast Indiana has ever had. The Vision 2020 Regional Economic Summit brought over 1,040 people together to talk about economic development and build pride for the region.

The fact that the Northeast Indiana region has seen a steady decline of per capita income over the last 15 years shows that as a regional community, we must do something to turn the downward trend around. Currently, we make 80 cents to the dollar the average American worker makes. Vision 2020, a six-month visioning project that has had nearly 2,000 conversations throughout the region, was sparked by this fact. The Regional Economic Summit was the culmination of the process and the kick-off to its implementation.

“A community reinvented every day! Vibrant, progressive, innovative, and full of opportunity,” was the vision statement revealed to the audience during the Summit.
Attendees used wireless keypads to vote on goals and strategies that were developed through the process. The five pillars of 21st century talent, competitive business climate, entrepreneurship, infrastructure and quality of life, form the basis of the vision. Topics of questions ranged from which counties attendees lived and worked in to whether attendees were willing to help implement the vision.

At the event, the public was able to pledge a commitment to the effort by signing a “Declaration of Outrageous” and pledge cards promising to use regional collaboration. The declaration is now full of signatures.

The Regional Economic Summit sought broad input from community leaders and residents for all Northeast Indiana–and that’s what it got.  Over 1,000 people from businesses, foundations, schools, government and 10 different counties came together to show support for a new way of thinking and commitment toward moving forward together.

The full presentation and results from electronic voting can be found at  www.NortheastIndianaVision.com.

The Northeast Indiana regional community includes Adams, Allen, DeKalb, LaGrange, Huntington, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley counties.

Written by Monica Freeman, NEIRC

Oh those lazy hazy days of summer! Rosie pictured here, is our rescued Golden Doodle. She is giving her best “lazy lake day, enjoying a cruise” in the boat look. However, here at LFW it is anything but lazy! All of our programs have held their graduation events and we extend our best wishes to all who participated and made this past program year so successful. We are especially grateful to our corporate sponsors, grantors, supporters and alumni contributors for making these programs possible. 

By the way it is through this support that we are able to offer program scholarships and all of our Youth Leadership Fort Wayne Programs free to all participants! Another not well publicized fact of YLFW and our Youth As Resources programming is that over the past 16 years there have been 208 Youth Community Service Projects completed with an investment in our community of over $200,000! These kids rock!

With the year coming to a close, we are wrapping up the year with reports to the board, corporate sponsors and grantors and getting ready to roll out our twenty-seventh year of community leadership development! Programmatically there are some subtle changes in the LFW adult program that will provide more skill development to participants. In addition we plan to introduce more detailed pre and post evaluations that will allow LFW to measure skill development and overall program impact more effectively.

Our LFW NINA program recently wrapped up the Emerging Leaders class with 21 one individuals completing the six-month program which utilized Peter C. Brinckerhoff, Mission-based Management book as the curriculum’s foundational guide. Participant s for the Emerging Leaders program are nominated for participation by their executive director. It was an honor to hear their success stories and learn why they were selected for participation during the graduation ceremony. Our non-profit community is in good hands, believe me.

Moving forward we continue to look for opportunities to keep our alums engaged, energized and involved! I personally believe that LFW Alums are or should be a strike-force for positive community change and engagement. By the way did you know that over 1,000 individuals have been through the signature LFW program and that over 700 of us live right here in Fort Wayne, Allen County and that virtually every board, committee and task force in our community is likely to have at least one LFW alumni serving on it? That’s good stuff! Thank you for your commitment and service to our community and to Leadership Fort Wayne.

I hope you will watch for more details on Alumni Programming in the coming months, but also would like to hear ideas from you. E-mail me at beckerc@ipfw.edu

Another reminder is to send notifications of your community involvement so we can share with the community and as always, alums are encouraged each year to refer individuals for the signature program. Applications are due by June 30, 2010!

 The Philharmonic just announced the launch of a new interactive and educational program geared toward young professionals in northeast Indiana. “Phil U” is a season-long program that will introduce participants to the various facets of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic organization. This program is an interactive and educational experience that includes volunteering, concert attendance, musician interaction, and more. The goal is to give participants a better understanding and appreciation of the music performed by The Phil as well as the organization as a whole. Another goal is that after the program, participants will embrace a sense of commitment to help further the arts in our community.

Participants will be exposed to a variety of activities within The Phil organization. Participants will enjoy free admission to a number of Phil concerts, as well as granted behind the scenes access to learn more about the music, musicians, music director, guest artists, staff, and volunteers, as well as enjoy a number of social activities at some of Fort Wayne’s popular establishments.

The program is open to young professionals in northeast Indiana, approximate ages of 23-40, who have an interest in the arts but not necessarily a background in music, knowledge of classical music, or experience in attending arts events. “We want people who are interested in learning new things, meeting new people, and hopefully, by the end of the program, will consider becoming a volunteer, donor, or patron of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic,” stated Samantha Teter, The Phil’s Director of Marketing and PR.

 Participants will be selected through an application process. Applications and a detailed overview of the program are available online at http://www.fwphil.org/ or by emailing Samantha Teter at steter@fwphil.org. Those selected for the program will be asked to pay a $50 participation fee that will help offset some of the costs. The total value of the program is over $300 per person.

Summer Reading Buddies Needed

Budget Cuts to Summer School Programs Make Volunteers Even More Essential

 United Way of Allen County’s Learn United initiative is in search of approximately 200 volunteers to help elementary students improve their literacy skills over the summer. “Summer Reading Buddies” are needed June 14 through August 13 at a variety of times and locations. Volunteers may sign up for as little as one hour a week for two weeks, and as much as several hours a week for ten weeks.

 “Budget cuts have forced local school districts to eliminate or reduce summer school programs,” said Marcy Yoder, United Way of Allen County’s vice president of community relations. “That makes literacy volunteers all the more important this year to help local students who struggle with reading skills.”

Site locations include: the Boys & Girls Club, East Allen Family Resource Center, Euell A. Wilson Center, Fort Wayne Urban League, Neighborhood Action Center, Study Elementary, Vincent Village, Wellspring sites (Plymouth Congregational Church, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Trinity Episcopal Church and Trinity English Lutheran Church), and YMCA sites (Camp Glenwood, Camp Kekionga, Southeast Y and Old Fort Y).

Interested volunteers should call 260.469.4030, or visit www.LearnUnited.org and click on volunteer. All volunteers will receive training and undergo a background check.

Learn United is a ten-year effort to ensure all Allen County students read at grade level by the end of third grade. It involves recruiting volunteers to help students who struggle with reading. Learn United is a collaborative partnership between United Way of Allen County, the Allen County Education Partnership, all four Allen County public school districts, and The Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce. More than 1,000 Allen County third-graders do not pass the ISTEP reading test every year; studies show that 74 percent of children who fall behind by third grade never catch up and gain the reading skills needed to be successful.

 Current participants of Leadership Fort Wayne and the NINA programs along with alumni, board members, YLNI, Regional Marketing Partnership and other regional leaders met together April 14th at Sweetwater Sound to participate in a VISION 2020 Leadership Input Session. About 130 leaders facilitated by Gianni Longo and Dave Kolzow came together to brainstorm “OUTRAGEOUS” ideas to transform our region by 2020.

Here is a brief summary of feedback after the event & some more ideas:

 Please rate your experience at the Vision 2020 Breakfast:

• 55% selected Excellent
• 35% selected  Good
• 10% selected Fair

Comments Included…

“Very Well Organized”

“Idea Generating”

“Great time to reflect upon economic development within FW and the region.” 

Ideas you had at the session not brought forth?

-       What ‘Sustainability’ means for the future of NE Indiana.

-      Farming projects involving the international community to increase employment and take advantage of the skills brought from foreign countries

-       Focusing on manufacturing of green alternative-energy technology, by using this area’s engineering expertise. Also, promoting the arts by having a First Night celebration on New Year’s Eve, which would connect families and young people with the performing arts and provide something to do other than dining and drinking. Think how much fun it was to celebrate the city’s bicentennial as a community event. A first Night event (celebrated at cities around the country) would add in performing arts.

-      Though it was mentioned, I was surprised that not in any of the previous lists of ideas and information gathered was there a mention of our amazing diversity of cultures found in the northeast Indiana sector. I am concerned that instead of celebrating this fact, that we are just not talking about it or understanding the positive ramifications of this reality. South Side High School has one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation; in Fort Wayne, we speak over 80 foreign languages. Though this was never in the city fathers’ strategic plans, it needs now to be faced with a positive attitude.Need to get suburbanites and residents of town around Fort Wayne, downtown. Many in both these groups seldom, if ever, get downtown. Parkview Field is a fantastic start. Also, the need to add living quarters and studios for artists and musicians downtown, to create an arts community. Can there be artists’ apartments near Art Link? Also, why not have local colleges and universities coordinate activities downtown. Invite IPFW, Manchester and St. Francis students to Indiana Tech’s movie theater and student center for a music festival, and tie in downtown venues as well.

 As you reflected on the event over this past day, what ideas did you have afterwards?  

-      Although I was not on educational panel, I wanted to suggest that NEIRP looks at the Starfish model in Indianapolis. The Starfish model provides the brightest students within IPS to attend private schools on scholarship.

The Leadership Fort Wayne Alumni are in the process of considering how they can continue this type of constructive brainstorming and idea generating for other community issues.  If you have a community issue we should consider convening about, please contact us!

Thank you to our partner the Northeast Indiana Fund!

Mark Becker, a 1993 graduate of LFW  is currently the Executive Director of the Northeast Indiana Fund.

Mark champions regional economic development capacity building through the work of the Northeast Indiana Fund in providing financial support for growth-oriented initiatives.

Recently we caught up with Mark and asked him to share just a little about himself with us.

Q. As the Past Deputy Mayor and with your long time involvement in economic development  … would you share what drives your passion for the Northeast Indiana community?

A. While I have spent most of my career in economic development, my education – and my passion – is in community development and planning. Great communities and regions don’t just happen – they develop as a result of strong leadership and a commitment to planning and action toward achieving a desired future. I was very fortunate to serve the City of Fort Wayne, first as Director of Community Development and later as Deputy Mayor, during a time when there was a renewed commitment to planning and bold thinking about how we position our community for the future. Our comprehensive plan was more than twenty years old – and we had never planned for a shared future with Allen County. We now have Plan-It Allen, a plan for the coordinated development of our entire community. Parkview Field and Harrison Square are a direct result of the plans that we developed for the revitalization of Downtown Fort Wayne. Southtown Centre and the Hanna Creighton project exist because of bold leadership and sound planning. Mayor Richard challenged our team to establish a framework for success, always emphasizing that great things happen when opportunity meets preparation!

My current work with the Northeast Indiana Fund is similarly focused on supporting activities that help build the capacity of our region to support new private investment – leading to quality job creation. I believe as a region, we can achieve anything we set our sights on – but, we must have a vision to guide us and strong leadership committed to action.

Q. Describe how something you learned/experienced in Leadership Fort Wayne has helped/ benefitted you:

A. Leadership Fort Wayne provides perhaps the best overview of the “inner workings” of our community – and the issues we face – of any program available. When I approached my boss at the time regarding participation in the program, he questioned the value of the investment, thinking I was already involved in the community and knowledgeable about the challenges we face. I persuaded him otherwise and, in fact, I learned a great deal that I did not know about Fort Wayne and became friends with a tremendous group of people (the great class of ’93!), many of whom I stay in contact with today. Leadership Fort Wayne instills not only a broad understanding of our community, but also a better sense of how our individual skills and passions can be directed to have an impact toward making this a better place.

Although, I doubt you have much “free time” … When you are not working for our community, how do you spend your leisure time?  

A. First and foremost, I enjoy any and all time with my wife Cheri. Our lives are hectic at times, but she keeps me grounded, makes me laugh and challenges me in our life together to step out of my comfort zone – be it my personal or professional life. She is my safe harbor and my partner in crime! We have our little slice of paradise that we escape to on a small fishing lake in Steuben County, where you’ll find us with our dog Rosie working in the yard, grilling/cooking or relaxing with a good book. At home in Fort Wayne, we appreciate time with close friends—and, now that spring is here, you’ll also see us at TinCaps games!

The LFW applications for the Class of 2011 are now available online.  Go to http://leadershipfortwayne.org/programs/LFW/apply.html  and scroll to the bottom of the page to download the application.  Completed applications can be mailed to Leadership Fort Wayne, 2101 E. Coliseum Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46805, or faxed to 481-4116.

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