Leadership Waukesha Application Deadline is July 22

Editor's Note: This information was provided to Waukesha Patch from a news release from the Waukesha County Business Alliance.

Leadership Waukesha, a program of the Waukesha County Business Alliance, in partnership with ProHealth Care, will be entering into its 23rd year of providing leadership development for Waukesha County residents interested in learning more about themselves and our community.

The goal of Leadership Waukesha is to prepare men and women who live or work in the greater Waukesha County area for positions of leadership in their business and community.

The benefits of Leadership Waukesha are as diverse as the participants themselves. Graduates of the program cite enhanced communications skills, thinking outside the box, exposure to future business trends and learning from Waukesha County’s business, government and non-profit leaders as a few of the reasons why they consider the program exceptional.

“As a new-comer to Waukesha County, Leadership Waukesha was an absolutely priceless experience for me,” said Kelly Ratliff, AmeriCorps*VISTA in the Office of Service Learning at Waukesha County Technical College. Ratliff is a graduate of the most recent class. “Through the program, I was able to really immerse myself in the community and become familiarized with area businesses, county history and current issues, and local opportunities for leadership.

“Most importantly, I learned more about myself and built great relationships with the leaders I met and formed true friendships with my classmates.”

Leadership Waukesha classes meet every other Monday starting Aug. 29 through April 30. During this time, participants will enhance their leadership skills and learn ways to use these skills in professional and volunteer capacities.

In addition to the class sessions, participants work as a team on a community focused project to benefit local nonprofit agencies and their clients. Last year, one group worked with Waukesha Education Foundation on marketing materials to raise awareness and increase the donor base.

Another group collaborated with Waukesha County Drug Free Communities to research alcohol related guidelines and ordinances to create opportunities for change in Waukesha County. Another group worked to improve internal communication at La Casa de Esperanza. The final group gathered input from local bikers on a bike trail map for the Waukesha County Park System.

Applications for the class are due by July 22, 2011. Visit www.waukesha.org for the application and further details for each class session.