Community Economic Development: Public Leaders Building Sustainable Economies

Dates: July 2010
Location: UVM Campus & Site Visits

Who Should Attend the Public Leaders Program?

• People at all levels of organizations with social and environmental missions.
• Graduate and upper-level undergraduate students interested in working for or starting social entrepreneurial businesses and non-profit organizations.

UVM's program aims to provide recent graduates, current graduate students, and professionals an opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills required to apply their commitment to social justice and the environment in creative ways. This program will help prepare participants to start new organizations, transform bureaucracies in public-sector and nongovernmental arenas, and assume leadership positions in existing organizations with social or environmental missions.

This five-day intensive summer program is focused on strategies to encourage economic self-sufficiency through local ownership and resource use, equalize the benefits and burdens of growth, leverage and recycle scarce public and private funds, protect and preserve environmental resources, ensure full participation in decision making, and nurture a robust "third sector” of private organizations to help deliver essential services.

• Attend all five days and successfully complete work for three college credits.
• Attend all five days for professional development and receive a certificate of completion.