Community Leadership engages citizens in a learning community, working together from January until May, weaving Whole Systems and experiential learning with opportunities to interface with county leaders to explore areas of governance, economics, environment, health/education and art/history and culture.  Our leadership skill development includes facilitation, group dynamics, communications and conflict resolution.

We have an alumni roster of more than 120 community leaders who live and work on Lopez, Orcas, San Juan, Fidalgo Islands, and beyond.  Our graduates are entrepreneurs, hold elected offices, work in our schools, on coalitions, and governmental agencies, serve on numerous non-profit boards,  in media, utilities, libraries, healthcare, environmental, solid waste, farming/food and sustainability programs and provide pro-bono facilitation for board retreats and  community meetings.

When a handful of Friday Harbor leaders envisioned Leadership San Juan Islands back in 2004, little did they know how successful they would be in developing the future leaders of San Juan County.  Founded through a collaboration between Skagit Valley College, The United Way and the Economic Development Council, LSJI is now a solid 501(c)(3) and  its successful program is entering its ninth  year in January.

Join us! Registration is open for Cohort IX, with applications due by Nov. 19.  The calendar of program dates and application are available at www.lsji.org or by calling Program Co-Directors Liz Illg (378-6104) or Tara Dalton (468-3875).

Morgan Meadows

LSJI Publicity and alumni outreach

Orcas Island