The Curriculum is divided into three distinct areas: Seminar Days; Pre-Class Assignments; and the The Philanthropy Project.  Each area is designed to complement each area and enhance the Leadership Akron class experience.

Seminar Days

Leadership Akron’s curriculum is a series of robust classes where each session has a specific focus. These seminars are created by a committee of Leadership Akron graduates and the staff, with the aid and expertise of area decision-makers.

The benefits of the curriculum are that leaders will:

• Understand issues, impacts and implications that affect the region now and in the future.
   
• Grasp the “big picture" of the greater Akron region.
   
• Develop an exemplary network of colleagues and collaborators.
   
• Have access to decision-makers and industry leaders.
   
• Strengthen personal leadership skills that help advance professional and volunteer activities.
   
• Have “up close and personal” experiences through site visits and interaction with front-line personnel.

Some curriculum details:

Leadership Akron classes run from August through June, one day each month from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Each class is 34 members strong. Each location is different, but conducive to the day’s subject. There are ten seminars with one topic per day. Area decision-makers offer their time and expertise to address the Leadership Akron class. Tours and interactive exercises are built into each seminar. During eight of the ten months, pre-class opportunities will be offered outside of the seminar day. Each class member participates in the Philanthropy Project and in small study groups throughout the year. Each study group and the Philanthropy Project groups schedule their own time outside of the seminar program.

With panel discussions, group activities, on-site visits, role-playing exercises, and dialogue playing a part in a typical class day, boredom, as a rule, does not. The full-day seminars are directed by prominent community leaders and topic specialists which allows active participants numerous opportunities to build a network of personal contacts that facilitates professional and public effectiveness.

Click here to learn about Leadership Akron's Curriculum Seminars

Pre-Class Assignments

For eight of the ten months we will provide series of pre-class assignments or “opportunities” to enhance the educational component of some of the seminar days. A few are mandatory, the rest are as your time and interest allow. We hope each participant will attend at least one each month, if possible.

Each year, the opportunities may change depending on the issues of highest importance in the community. The best part is you will meet the heads of all these agencies and learn their needs, their resources and their leadership style.

Examples of pre-class assignments are:

• Social Services:
  • Visit with clients at HM Life Opportunity Services
  • Meet in a group home to learn about providing independence for the mentally challenged under the care of Ardmore, Inc.
  • Spend a half day with a social worker from Children Services
  • Visit Community Support Services
  • Visit and tour United Disability Services
• Local Government:
  • Spend one evening observing the Akron City Council (mandatory)
  • Spend one evening observing the Summit County Council (mandatory)
• Education:
  • Attend an Akron School Board meeting
  • Visit and tour a Charter School
  • Visit and tour an Alternative School
  • Spend 2 ½ hours meeting with the principal, teaching staff and students of a local school (mandatory)
• Media:
  • Take a tour of the Akron Beacon Journal and participate in a news meeting to learn how the daily newspaper is produced.
• Health Care:
  • Tour and learn about Akron General’s Emergency Department
  • Visit and tour Edwin Shaw Rehabilitation Hospital
  • Spend a day shadowing a doctor at Children’s, Summa or Akron General
  • Do an 8 hour shift with an EMS unit
  • Participate in a Fitness Screening (mandatory)
• Justice:
  • Visit the Federal Court joined by leadership program class members from neighboring counties
  • Visit the Juvenile Court
  • Visit the Medical Examiner’s Office
  • Spend a morning at the Police Academy
  • Do an 8 hour shift with in a Police Cruiser (mandatory)
  • Visit and tour the Summit County Jail (mandatory)
• Business and Economy:
  • Meet with one, two or three business leaders at their places of business. (one mandatory)
  • Visit and tour the Akron Incubator
  
  

The Philanthropy Project

America has a most impressive heritage of voluntary effort and philanthropy, but it is a fragile resource that must constantly be tended and strengthened. Leadership Akron has long recognized that people helping people, voluntarily and cooperatively, is the most effective and least costly way to solve problems, deliver services, and build strong communities.

By making volunteerism and philanthropy a part of the Leadership Akron curriculum, Leadership Akron provides a leading role in encouraging people to give of themselves with time, talent and treasure, all of which improve the quality of life for everyone.

John Frank, president of the Burton D. Morgan Foundation conceived the Philanthropy Project. Since 1996, the foundation has generously provided $10,000 to each Leadership Akron class. In 1999, the GAR Foundation joined in this educational effort by providing an additional grant of $10,000. In addition, class members, the City of Akron and others have also made significant contributions. The project is designed to increase the understanding of philanthropy and improve its practice in the greater Akron area.

The goal of the Philanthropy Project is to ensure that the philanthropic future of the greater Akron region remains strong during changing times. To meet this goal, the Leadership Akron curriculum objectives are to:

Provide educational experiences to enhance the understanding of how philanthropic ideals permeate all segments of the community. Provide Class participants with experiences in needs assessment, prioritization, and grant making.

Click here and see the list of the grants distributed by each class since 1996