Programs

The Leadership Asheville Program

Program Objectives

The primary aim of the Leadership Asheville (LA) Program is to strengthen community leadership by preparing participants to work with others to develop and sustain the health of the greater Asheville area.

The 9-month, 10-day Program begins in September and ends in May. Meeting day sessions focus on both community orientation and personal leadership development skills that are led by a variety of trainers, facilitators, and community leaders. Each monthly meeting day is dedicated to both leadership education and community orientation.

Additionally, there are activities required outside of meeting days that provide outlets to use and refine skills, concepts, and tools introduced in class sessions and readings. These activities are an important part of the LA Program and require additional work outside of scheduled Program meeting days.

Through interactive community orientation, personal leadership development training, and hands-on team projects, the Program provides a strong curriculum for developing a broad, collaborative, action-network of community members. LA Fellows complete the Program with an increased capacity as effective leaders with a greater knowledge of the community.

Candidate Qualifications

A selection committee comprised of LA Fellows, graduates of the LA Program, selects approximately 40 candidates from the pool of applicants to create a diverse class with respect to several factors, including occupation, race/ethnicity, gender and geography. Applicants should:

• Have demonstrated a capacity for leadership in their chosen careers and/or have a likelihood of achieving positions of responsibility;
• Be open-minded;
• Have achieved a record of civic activity and/or show a genuine interest in becoming more involved in the greater Asheville civic arena;
• Be willing to take risks;
• Have shown the ability to commit the time and energy required to participate fully in the Program;
• Currently reside in Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, or Madison counties and with intentions to remain in the area for the foreseeable future; and
• Possess a clear ability to work collaboratively.

Participant Expectations/Time Commitment

In order to complete the LA Program, participants are required to:

• Attend a two-day meeting in September (attendance is mandatory);
• Attend a full-day session once a month, from October to April;
• Attend a full-day graduation meeting in May (attendance is mandatory);
• Engage in pre- and post-class reading assignments and exercises;
• Complete a community awareness activity in the fall and spring; and
• Participate in and contribute to a team project that may take at least 20 additional hours outside of scheduled meeting times.

Attendance Policy

Attendance at every monthly session is expected. The success of the LA Program depends on the full commitment of each participant. Participants benefit from the Program only if they are present to hear from the different leaders and interact with their colleagues in class discussion. Class members – and our speakers – expect the participant to be present. Since circumstances do arise which prevent attendance, participants are expected to notify staff in advance.

Except for the September and May meetings, participants may miss up to 8 hours of class meeting time. Missing between 8 and 16 hours of class meeting time will require a participant to attend an appropriate number of meetings or events the following year prior to officially graduating. If a participant misses more than 16 hours, they will be asked to withdraw from the Program and forfeit tuition. Ultimately, LA reserves the right to make graduation decisions contingent upon fulfilling the requirements of the Program.

Tuition

The total amount of tuition and materials fee for each participant is $1,500, which is approximately one-half of the Program’s actual cost. Through financial assistance and other fundraising, LA attempts to keep tuition as low as possible in order to achieve diverse participation in the Program. Because the community is making an investment in participants through this Program, there is a strong expectation that upon graduating and becoming a LA Fellow, participants will become actively involved in the community’s leadership.

To demonstrate and solidify the personal commitment necessary to ensure the best experience possible, each participant must personally pay at least 10% of tuition and fees, or $150, with the balance paid by the candidate’s firm or organization, if applicable.

Employee Sponsorships

This is a fellowship Program and all applicants are eligible regardless of their own or their employer’s ability to support their participation. To maintain a quality Program, participation in the Program carries an expectation the all employers/sponsors will contribute, or help generate support, to the best of their ability.

Sponsors support their employees in the Program by giving them time to participate and contributing to tuition. For-profit, private sector sponsors are encouraged to contribute additional monies to provide tuition assistance to those candidates who either are employed by small nonprofit organizations, public sector entities, or are self-employed.

Internal Process

Some corporations/organizations have an internal application process for selecting applicants from their organizations.  Before applying, please check with your employer before submitting an application.

Financial Assistance

Scholarship assistance may be available on a limited basis. For those seeking financial assistance, please complete the online Financial Assistance Request Form. Scholarships will be awarded based on need and the availability of resources. Financial assistance forms are confidential and have no bearing on the candidate selection process.

Assistance will not be granted for the entire tuition amount under any circumstances.  If granted, assistance will range from approximately $100 to a maximum of $600, but is typically around $350. Award amounts are based on the number of requests received and the amount of funds available each year.

Priority for financial assistance is given to those candidates who are either employed by small nonprofit organizations, public sector entities, or are self-employed. Candidates employed by large, private-sector companies are not eligible for assistance.

Applying to the LA Program

Applicants must complete the online LA Program Application Form. Applications to the Program usually are distributed in early April of each year. For questions, please contact Britt Lippard by email at blippard@leadershipasheville.org or by calling 828.348.0673.

Applications are usually due in early June of each year and notified of their status by early July.

A Sampling of LA Program Sponsors

More than 350 organizations have sponsored individuals since the LA Program’s inception. Following is a list of some of those that have sponsored participants over the years: