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Vision, Mission & History

Vision


Note: at the time of this publication, the board is refining the vision and mission statements. Below are draft vision and mission statements.) The Leading Institute (TLI) is a leading hub of knowledge on leader- ship and management issues in community development and urban planning. The TLI approach to effective, reflective and collaborative leadership is a model for progressive organizations and communities dealing with issues in community development and urban planning.

 

Mission

  • TLI improves professional practice in community development and urban planning by building the leadership and management capacity of professionals and working with individuals, organi- zations and communities.
  • TLI provides leadership needs assessments and training programs in organizational development, management, interpersonal communications and other leadership and management issues (as deemed appropriate by its board) to public, private, and nonprofit organizations throughout the United States.
  • TLI services combine to complement and advance the mission and vision of planning and community development organizations at all levels of public engagement.
  • TLI’s uses combinations of research, training and technical assis- tance to help communities, organizations, groups and practitioners address current problems and build viable strategic plans.
  • TLI collaborates with organizations in the community develop- ment and planning fields to represent the principles of collaborative leadership and promote the exercise of values-based management.

Note: Community development and urban planning are broadly defined as matters that deal with improving quality of life opportunities for geographic and cultural communities.

History

The Leading Institute started in 2002 as APA/LeadershipPlenty. APA/LeadershipPlenty was modeled on LeadershipPlenty, a grassroots training program designed by the Pew Partnership for Civic Change, a project of the Pew Charitable Trust in collaboration with some of the country's leading thinkers on leadership and civic engagement. The program is based on the premise that individuals operate in communities of abundance. The initial program design is built on training modules that strengthen leadership skills vital to active civic communities. The American Planning Association (APA) collaborated with the Pew Partnership to create a flexible curriculum to focus on mid-level and mid-career professionals involved in community enhancement and planning. This includes members of CBOs and CDCs, practicing planners who work in community planning, and individuals committed to improving quality of life conditions in low and moderate-income neighborhoods. Find out more about participant eligibility requirements.

APA/LeadershipPlenty program was produced in 2003 by the Planners for Ethnic and Cultural Diversity Committee of the APA's New York Metro Chapter. Committee members are committed to increasing the overall diversity of the planning profession, as well as increasing the influence of traditionally underrepresented groups in planning practice. APA/LeadershipPlenty was hosted by Milano, the New School for Management and Urban Policy.

In 2005, APA/LeadershipPlenty was offered in New York (at New School University) and New Jersey (at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey)

The Executive Class program was added in 2005, and the APA/ LeadershipPlenty Board of Directors formally changed the name of the collective programs to The Leading Institute. The core APA/ LeadershipPlenty program also changed names, becoming Leading from the Middle. The change reflects the board's wishes for TLI to become a hub of learning in leadership and management.
© 2008 Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey