APPLYING TO THE CORE PROGRAM

Imagine climbing aboard a ferry from Newport to Providence and debating a proposed port with a minister, an accountant, an artist, and a mayor… imagine yourself in an intense dialogue about racial tension with a banker, a teacher, a fisherman, and a police chief… spend a Saturday night in a trauma center… meet a maximum-security inmate… pose a question to the Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

At Leadership Rhode Island, you will be challenged by the critical issues facing our state and get an off-the-record, unconventional view of Rhode Island. You’ll go where the issues are and interact with key leaders in communities around the state… and all of this will happen in the company of 50 other leaders selected for their leadership capacities, talents, and life experiences.

The Curriculum

Each year, Leadership Rhode Island selects a diverse group of leaders to participate in a thought-provoking, 10-month educational program that consists of an overnight retreat, nine monthly daylong sessions, and a class project.  Participants experience an integrated, systems-based leadership education which is framed around statewide issues.

Session days typically include the following topics.  Click the links to see photos and a description from past session days.

• RI History and Culture
• Healthcare
• Education
• Government
• Media
• Economic Development
• Criminal Justice
• Environment
• Arts

In addition to session days, class members complete a class project in the course of their Leadership in Action component. Click here for a full description of the Leadership in Action requirements.

Also, throughout the year, we invite participants to engage in enhancement activities.  These are optional activities taking place outside of the session days, and they are opportunities to enhance your knowledge of a topic through experience.  An enhancement activity might include attending a play at the Gamm Theatre, touring a local school or hospital, or going on a ride-along with a member of the Rhode Island State Police.

Outcomes

Not only does the program provide on-site, experiential knowledge of the Rhode Island community, it also develops leadership competencies such as visioning; collaboration; respect for diversity and leading with inclusiveness; emotional intelligence; coalition building; strategic thinking; creating public dialogue; and developing solutions.

The benefits of the Core Leadership Program are numerous, for individuals, their organizations, and the greater community.  Participation is just the beginning of an ongoing commitment to leadership trustee development, and alumni of the program remain active with LRI and in their communities.