Program Schedule & Session Objectives

ORIENTATION: 

Leadership Bend will meet every 3rd Thursday of the month from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and cover the following topics and objectives:

Our Community

• Develop greater appreciation & understanding of the historical issues & events that shaped Central Oregon
• Gain unique insight and perspective on the composition of Bend and Central Oregon
• Learn about trends in community demographics over the years

Elections/Campaigns/Taxation/Bonds/Levies

• Learn the fundamentals of local bonds, districts, levies and campaigns
• How have recent elections impacted Central Oregon?
• Understand Oregon’s property tax and land use system

Economy, Tourism & the Central Oregon Business Climate

• Understand the current Central Oregon business climate, and drivers of our economy, including tourism and arts/culture
• Review local efforts to expand and retain local businesses; how key partners work together
• Talk about local industry clusters, including tech, biotech, outdoor products, food/beverage and others
• What threats to the viability of business, job retention and job creation exist?
• Discuss the need for a well-trained workforce, and the efforts being made regionally from high school and beyond to address employer/employee needs.

Government & Current Community Challenges

• Examine leadership in a government setting and operational differences between county and city
• Learn the key roles in city/county/state/federal government and hear directly from elected officials and key stakeholders.
• Look at the major challenges facing our community, including affordable housing, wages, workforce and transportation
• Discuss issues and opportunities facing local government; how future leaders can become involved

Judicial, Legal, Public Service & Safety

• Increase awareness of the local court system, community justice, and community protection services and how they work
• Hear from the Deschutes County Sheriff, Deschutes County DA and Circuit Court judges
• How do entities work together to keep our community safe?

Boards, Nonprofits and Human Services

• Gain a broad understanding of the nonprofit human services offered in Central Oregon
• Take a deep dive into our health care ecosystem, and learn the impacts to community when individuals do not have access to health care
• Learn how a board of directors works and how to be an effective board member
• Learn from key organizations why they exist and how they impact the community

Education, Technology and Emerging Industries

• Understand the fundamental education components and what’s next on the horizon in education
• From birth through post-secondary, how do we innovate to provide a 21st century education to our students
• Gain an awareness of the challenges facing youth and growth in our community

Environment, Land & Natural Resources

• Get an overview of our full natural resources landscape, from where our water comes from to where our waste goes
• Increase understanding of state, county and city land and water practices
• Hear from local experts on our forests, desert and waterways
• Learn how laws impact our natural resources and quality of life

Communications & Media

• Learn about our local media landscape, and the importance of local journalism to a well informed community
• Understand the concept of media literacy and how to differentiate fact based journalism from opinion and “fake news”
• Enhance communication skills, including PR and crisis management messaging

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

• Learn about the history of bias, injustice and inequality
• Discuss the true value of having diverse voices at the table, and how, as a leader to engage with diverse and historically marginalized communities

Impact Project: Each class member will work with a small team to complete an impact project for a local non-profit, and present the outcomes of that project at Leadership Bend graduation in June.