Palacio Podcast
Leadership Long Beach: A Catalyst That Informs, Activates, and Connects
Leadership Long Beach is more than a leadership training program. I should know as an alumnus, former Board of Directors member, and volunteer. The organization which celebrates its 30th Anniversary this year is a Long Beach institution that has, as they describe it, “helped inspire, create and cultivate the more than 1,500 community-engaged alumni to give back to Long Beach.” According to Jeff Williams, Executive Director of Leadership Long Beach, the organization’s mission is simple: inform, activate and connect community leaders to serve Long Beach.
“We run leadership programs that inform community members about the issues and challenges facing Long Beach. We connect them …and then we activate them. It’s about doing something.”
The last part of the mission is to serve Long Beach, says Williams, in order to make Long Beach the best city it can be.
The list of alumni who have participated in the various Leadership Long Beach training programs is a who’s who of elected officials, government staff, heads of nonprofits, and community and business leaders. Over the years, they’ve engaged one of the now four programs: The Executive Leadership Series, the Youth Leadership program, Leadership Foundations, and the premier 10 month-long Leadership Institute. The latter, while a serious commitment of time and energy, exposes the participants to a wide range of civic knowledge and networks.
“Each month is a different topic, you get connected to everybody and learn all the different aspects of the city.”
But learning is only one part of the training in the leadership programs. Putting what you’ve learned into action is equally if not more important. All the training program members collaborate within the groups to create community projects that give back to the city. It might be a mural, tree plantings, or stringing lights on the Queensway bridge. The goal is to teach teamwork, implement the leadership training principles they’ve learned, and contribute to the well-being of Long Beach.
Leadership Long Beach Executive Director Jeff Williams sat down with PalacioMagazine.com to talk about the organization’s legacy, the training programs, and the upcoming 30th Anniversary celebration on June 8, Night of a Thousand Lights.
Leadership Long Beach Information
“For more than 29 years, Leadership Long Beach (LLB), through its principled leadership programs, has helped inspire, create and cultivate the more than 1,500 community-engaged alumni to give back to Long Beach. The programs serve the community through educating and motivating the participants on issues and information important to the future and sustainability of our city.
From the Mayor of Long Beach to the PTA parent to the Director at Boeing to the high school student council leader, the network of Leadership Long Beach alumni spans the diversity of Long Beach all working towards the goal of a better community.”
You can find out more information about Leadership Long Beach HERE. The organization is currently accepting applications for the premiere Leadership Institute class of 2019-2020. Information is available HERE.
