Community Leadership Academy

2008 Application     2008 Schedule     Alumni     Committee

Here's what some recent graduates of the Community Leadership Academy said about their experience...

"I recommend the Community Leadership Academy to a broad range of companies and their employees. You meet other good people who you may someday need to join forces with in your personal and/or business world."
Tammy Huff, Class of 2005, Monge Property Management Company.

"I have to admit that I kept telling myself for years 'I don't have the time to participate in the Leadership Academy'. I am so glad I finally did it. I missed a few meetings in 2006 and I plan on attending them in 2007. Thank you Chamber of Commerce for putting this together. I am grateful to know that Pekin is so diverse in its business base and governmental representation."
Robert Hancock, Class of 2006, Pekin Hospital

"The Community Leadership Academy provided me with a great opportunity to gain a better understanding of the Pekin community and the vast array of businesses, industries, and resources within it. The Leadership Academy gave me the privilege to meet and network with professional individuals from a variety of backgrounds and expertise. I would highly recommend the experience."
Caterina Richardson, Class of 2006, Director of Rehabilitation and Residential Services, Bridgeway

Purpose of the Community Leadership Academy
     The Pekin area has been fortunate throughout its history to have strong volunteer leadership from the business and industrial community.  These volunteers have been instrumental in the planned growth and development of the community and in the resolution of community problems.
     The Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce believes it is important to provide a training ground for individuals with leadership potential so the community would continue to have a pool of informed, skilled, committed citizens capable of understanding community problems, interpreting the facts, and influencing decisions based on those facts.
     The Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership Academy has been designed to ensure the tradition of strong volunteer leadership in the Pekin area.  The program enables business and industry to prepare a limited number of committed citizens each year to assume responsible voluntary positions with non-profit agencies, civic groups, and citizen organizations within the community.  Participants are expected to seek out volunteer opportunities and involvement during their Leadership Academy program participation.  Leadership Academy committee members will be happy to assist with volunteer placement.
     The Community Leadership Academy has not been designed to prepare people for elective office, although elected officials could certainly benefit from the knowledge gained through academy participation.
     The Community Leadership Academy acquaints participants with a broad spectrum of civic problems; the workings of local government; the challenges facing the community; and the role individuals can play in solving community problems.  The insight gained from the Community Leadership Academy will help graduates select areas for personal civic involvement by exposing them to opportunities for meaningful participation.

Community Leadership Academy Program
     The Community Leadership Academy is a series of 10 two-hour sessions on topics of community concern.  Each session consists of oral presentations by Community Leadership Academy members, oral presentations on a selected topic by experts involved in the field, and open discussion between Community Leadership Academy participants and the speakers of the day.
     In addition to the "classroom" sessions, the program includes four other required avenues of learning.  First, a number of field trips are organized which provide firsthand knowledge of community business, agencies and facilities.  Attendance at 5 of the 10 field trips is required.  Second, every participant is required to attend two local government public meetings (city planning commission, city council, county board, or county zoning board).  Third, every participant is required to attend at least 1 board meeting of a non-profit organization.  And fourth, every participant is required to attend one Chamber of Commerce networking event (Business After Hours, Puttin' On Pekin, etc.)
     Leadership Academy sessions are held each Thursday morning from 7:00am to 9:00am.  This utilizes one hour of the participant's time and one hour of the employer's time.  Tours are generally scheduled on Tuesday mornings from 8:00am to 10:00am.
     Leadership Academy participants who successfully complete all phases of the program are honored at a graduation banquet held at the end of the program.  Spouses and employers are welcome to attend.
     The Leadership Academy is generally held from early January to mid-March.  Registration information is usually available in early November.