Leadership Shelby County

Leadership Shelby County is open to persons living and/or working in Shelby County at the time of application.

Class members are chosen by the Leadership Shelby County Selection Committee on their own merits based on the information completed on the application. The Committee seeks representation from a cross section of the community including business, labor, education, the arts, religion, government, and community-based organizations. The Committee looks for potential participants who demonstrate commitment and motivation to the Shelby County area, policy-shaping responsibility or leadership in employment and/or volunteer organizations resulting in the potential to have significant influence on important issues facing the county, and ability to make the time commitment required by the program.

The nine month program starts with a mandatory Opening Retreat in September and ends in May with the Graduation Ceremony. On each class day, participants have the opportunity to meet community decision makers and to engage them in frank, off the record discussions on current issues. A wide range of topics exposes participants to the decisions facing our communities today. Emphasis is on active, hands-on experience that makes the learning meaningful and interesting.

Because class size is limited and the selection process competitive, it is not unusual for a candidate to be nominated more than one year before being selected. Leadership Shelby County tuition is $1,100.00 per each participant, payable at the time of acceptance. Class members are required to attend all sessions. Applicants must have full support of the organization or corporation they represent.

Class Schedule:

Opening Retreat

Objective: To foster team building among Leadership Shelby County class participatnts and to introduce the Leadership program concepts and processes.

Small Group Dinner

Objective: To provide the class an opportunity to fellowship together with a host who is deeply connected to Leadership Shelby County and positively impacts the community through their sphere of influence.

Local Government Day

Objective: To provide an understanding of how your local government works, and demonstrate that local governments (cities and county) can work together cooperatively, cohesively and collaboratively.

Education Day

Objective: To gain an accurate perspective of public education in Shelby County by exposing class participants to educational resources and examining critical issues facing education.

Justice System Day

Objective: To gain knowledge and understanding of law enforcement, the court system, community corrections and juvenile services.

Health and Communtiy Services Day

Objective: To gain a better understanding of what is happening in the healthcare arena and to heighten awareness of preventive strategies for health. Also, to explore services of several Shelby County Community Services agencies.

Snall Group Dinner

Objective: Provide the class an opportunity to fellowship together with a host who is deeply connected to Leadership Shelby County and positively impacts the community through their sphere of influence.

Economic Development Day

Objective: To explore the approaches to and elements of the various organizations that comprise and collaborate to promote economic development in and for Shelby County, including tourism, small business, corporate + industrial attraction and retention, as well as innovation, tourism and

workforce/talent development.

Government Day

Objective: To provide an understanding of the formal and informal processes of non-judicial aspects of state government, ways in which it relates to Shelby County, and ways in which leaders can be effective in the processes.