EMERGE

LeadingAge California has partnered with Sodexo to offer a comprehensive leadership development program specifically designed to better prepare its membership for the future.

The program is available to anyone who is a LeadingAge California Member (including, but not limited to voting members, associate members and allied members), irrespective of position or work experience. It is far more important for candidates to demonstrate potential within their organizations and the field of aging services than it is for them to carry specific job titles.

Framework
Mission:
EMERGE is a year-long growth and development experience for high potential leaders seeking to transform themselves and their organizations.

Vision:
To prepare future generations of individuals to successfully lead highly engaged and innovative organizations.

Values:
Passion: investment of the heart
Authenticity: the courage to be yourself
Mutual respect: appreciating differences
Collaboration: together, we are more
Intellectual curiosity: a thirst to learn
Stewardship: receive and honor trust

In addition to the core tenets of the program, the following represent the fundamental objectives of EMERGE:
• Create a shared meaning of leadership and its fundamental principles.
• Help Fellows explore various dimensions of transformational leadership, with a focus on relationship building.
• Support Fellows in their individual leadership journeys, promoting self-awareness and authenticity.
• Develop a network of Fellows who will support one another as well as the values of the program.
• Enhance loyalty to and engagement with LeadingAge California.
• Increase the value to member organizations who sponsor Fellows.

Curriculum
Delivery Model: Participants will engage in four small group, customized learning experiences that include pre and post self assessments based on leadership qualities and characteristics, site visits to LeadingAge California member communities, reading assignments from a wide range of authors and experts in the field of leadership development, along with group exercises and class activities aimed towards achieving a self exploration of different leadership styles. 

Mentorship and Networking: Fellows will have the opportunity to connect with a mentoring Coach throughout the duration of the program and will participate in monthly team calls in between class sessions.  The monthly team calls will allow fellows to obtain the tools, experiences, and connections needed to become change agents and inclusive leaders.

Action Learning Project: An important element of this program is the assigned Action Learning Project (ALP) in which fellows create an idea or act on an opportunity around the themes of change and innovation and bring that project back to their own organization.  ALPs offer a chance to reflect individually and in groups where fellows receive feedback and insight from their peers, mentors, and facilitators on how to successfully lead change through the work of their ALP. Read the Class of 2011 ALPs.

CEUs and Course Themes: Participants will receive Continuing Education Units (CEUs) after each session of the program. Total CEU hours are pending and based upon the curriculum content submitted for each session. 
• Session One: Finding Your Leadership Voice
• Session Two: Leading Change and Innovation
• Session Three: Inspiring and Motivating Others
• Session Four: Discovering a Work/Life Balance

Commitment
The $1,500 program tuition includes:
• Over 50 hours of face-to-face instruction
• Continuing Education Units after each session
• Course materials
• An extensive online Leadership Practices Inventory assessment
• Access to the EMERGE online forum
• Continental breakfast and full lunch for each class date
• Complimentary registration for each fellow to the 2013 LeadingAge California Annual Conference and 2014 Public Policy Conference
• Graduation celebration with program sponsors
• Certificate of Completion

Application Process and Session Schedule for the Class of 2013-2014
December 2012 – Class of 2013-2014 Application
February 19, 2013 – Applications Due
March 15, 2013 – Acceptance letters are mailed to applicants
May 7-9, 2013 – EMERGE Session One in conjunction with LeadingAge California 2013 Annual Conference
July 31-August 1, 2013 – EMERGE Session Two
December 5-6, 2013 – EMERGE Session Three
March 5-7, 2014 – EMERGE Session Four in conjunction with LeadingAge California 2014 Public Policy Conference

Contact
For more information regarding the EMERGE Leadership program, or scholarship availability, contact Megan Maddox at 916-469-3365 or mmaddox@aging.org.For more information on EMERGE, you can link to a list of its steering committee members.