Class Curriculum
Through a nine-month series of workshops and related activities, Leadership Siouxland participants are given an understanding of Siouxland as an economic, civic and cultural entity. They identify Siouxland's most pressing problems, analyze the causes and recommend solutions. At the same time, these participants are gaining insights into the political ramifications of decision-making and the methods for conflict resolution.

Most importantly, participants are introduced to leadership concepts, persuaded to develop their own personal leadership styles and encouraged to immediately apply their new skills by assuming leadership roles in Siouxland.

The curriculum is reviewed each year to ensure the freshest and most pertinent topics are covered. Previous sessions have touched on Labor and Management and the Media.

Below is an abbreviated course schedule. Sessions may vary.

Session 1
Orientation - The mandatory orientation session includes a historical scan of Siouxland's past, a vision for the future and a hands-on tour of key spots in the community.

Session 2
Politics & Government - An in-depth tour of the 185th Air Refueling Base precedes a discussion of the vast arena of politics and government. The tri-state governments are reviewed with the help of representatives from city, county and state government. The reading assignment focuses on charisma, discernment and listening.

Session 3
Economic Development - A tour of a local manufacturing facility or large business covers the process of production. The discussion includes city leaders sharing their views on Siouxland's economic health and business owners sharing the goals, obstacles and financial commitment needed to succeed. The reading assignment focuses on competence, initiative and positive attitude. A small group exercise focusing on teamwork and problem solving is explored.

Session 4
Education - An informative walking tour through a Siouxland school precedes a discussion with educators on how current and effective educational techniques are implemented. The reading assignment focuses on commitment, communication and teachability.

Session 5
Non-Profit Organizations - Participants are given an introduction to the structure of a board of directors, getting involved as a community volunteer and taking steps to serve on a board. The discussion includes presentations from various non-profit organizations in the Siouxland area. The reading assignment focuses on generosity, servanthood and vision.

Session 6
Arts in Siouxland - Following a tour of one of Siouxland's entertainment facilities, the class discusses the process of keeping entertainment revenue in town. The promoters and organizers of Siouxland's entertainment facilities represent passion for their interests, self-discipline to keep volunteers and sponsors on the same track, and focus to make Siouxland the entertainment capitol of this area. The reading assignment deals with focus, passion and self discipline and how these leadership abilities relate to the development of our area's cultural and social entertainment opportunities.

Session 7
Ethnic Diversity - Designed to gain a better awareness and understanding of the diverse cultures that represent the Siouxland community, the discussion identifies strategies to break down barriers of exclusion. The focus is on the top three ways to think and perform like a leader with respect for diversity. Several leadership qualities such as character, courage and relationships are explored in the reading assignment.

Session 8
Law Enforcement - The class tours the Law Enforcement Regional Training Centernear Sergeant Bluff. Representatives from community law enforcement cover the topics of identity theft, the effects of alcohol and drugs on the community, volunteers in police service and the citizens academy. The reading assignment focuses on problem-solving, responsibility and security.

Session 9
Graduation & Group Presentations - Each small group presents a community enhancement project that incorporates the various skills of the team with the information acquired over the previous nine months.

Past projects include:

• Partnering with students from the Mayor's Youth Commission to educate them and get them involved in the Iowa Great Places grant.
• Organizing local celebrities to read children's stories on tape with the goal of distributing the books with the recordings to local Head-Start programs.
• Organizing a "New Beginnings" collection day and gathering over 60 boxes of household goods for families leaving the CSADV shelter.
• Creating a comprehensive program to tie all non-profit organizations together so people could use their services or volunteer more effectively. This included a needs survey of over 100 non-profits, researching the legal ramifications, creating a mock web site and a TV PSA, and analyzing the pros and cons of such a program.
• Developing a Super Sports Saturday for Girls, Inc. to get more young females involved in sports and group activities. This resulted in a grant for the creation of a basketball program for junior high girls at Girls, Inc.
• Expanding the education base in Siouxland by meeting with the Board of Regents and conducting a survey of students and employees in the hopes of encouraging the development of a state university presence in the area.
• Researching the Missouri River's history and how its speed, location and direction has been affected by the Corps of Engineers.