October 5, 2006
UW, Heritage University team to train future leaders in Toppenish
There can be an unfortunate cycle to the under-representation of minority populations — in education, the workplace and the public sector.
But a new program of seminars sponsored by the UW and Heritage University in Toppenish, Wash., and starting this month is seeking to break that cycle with seminars that empower their participants with information about networking, speaking, public leadership and the workings of government.
Due to the very nature of their marginalization, members of traditionally under-represented populations can sometimes lack the information, confidence, skills or cultural frame of reference to break the cycle and step forward into roles of public responsibility.
That’s why Robert Ozuna, director of the UW-Yakima Valley Partnership Office and an adjunct faculty member at Heritage, sought and found funding to create the new Public Leadership and Engagement Academy, a nine-month series of skill-building seminars to be held at Heritage University. The program will use the expertise of UW and Heritage faculty in its implementation.
“Policymakers are always asking us, ‘Do you know anyone Native American or Latino — we’re trying to get a more diverse representation on our boards. Boards should be more diverse, and be reflective of the local community,” said Ozuna. The seminars to be offered by the academy will concentrate on helping participants build the skills and self-esteem necessary to serve in the public sector.
Ozuna said the academy is a nine-month program of seminars every Saturday together with monthly evening sessions. Anyone who believes they are in an under-served population may attend, he said, adding, “We have large and growing Native American and Latino populations that are under-served and under-represented.”
The academy is backed by a strong lineup of advisers from regional government. They are 46th District Rep. Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney, Yakima County Commissioner Jesse S. Palacios, Toppenish City Council members Clara Jimenez and Blaine Thorington, Teri K. Johnson-Davis, director economic development for the Yakama Nation, Vickie Ybarra, president of the Yakima School Board, Sunnyside School Board member Miguel Puente and Jesse Farias, mayor of Wapato.
The faculty and trainers include Frances Contreras, professor of Education Leadership and Policy Studies; Jim Diers, UW community liaison for Educational Partnerships and Learning Technologies; and Christine DiStefano, associate professor of political science, who will be the director of the academy. Also among the faculty is Norm Rice, former mayor of Seattle.
Contreras will open the seminars with an introduction to the academy and a session on public leadership. “Essentially, I’ll give a conceptual overview of the seminars, but also a series of activities for participants to assess where they are with their own understanding of leadership and leadership in practice. “I’ll be asking participants to be introspective about their own perceptions of leadership, and who they admire,” she said.
Contreras said cultural differences play a part, too, with individuals from some cultures feeling it “almost boastful” to present themselves as potential leaders in their communities. She said she will speak about “leadership in a multicultural world, trying to get them to think about multiculturalism and its relationship to leadership.”
Seminar topics will include leadership styles, democracy at work, campaigns, elections and fundraising; public speaking, conflict and resolution, group dynamics and facilitation skills, public policy development and implementation, community voting trends and profiles, and business and public leadership.
The seminars are free but participants must attend the entire nine-month series. Registration for the 2006 seminars has closed, but there will be a new series in the fall of 2007.
This program was made possible by a partnership developed by UW Educational Partnerships and Learning Technologies, led by Vice Provost Louis B. Fox.
For more information, visit online at www.PublicLeadership.Info.
