LEAP Curriculum Elements
The LEAP Program curriculum includes a balanced combination of retreats, day-long seminars, and small group experiential activities:
- Retreat: A two-day retreat held in late September focuses on self-assessment of leadership skills, an introduction to the region, an introduction to LPV’s leadership philosophy, and selection of small team projects.
- Challenge Days: Day-long seminars, held monthly (4 sessions), which focus on leadership skills and significant challenges facing the region such as education, sustainability, transportation, and the regional economy.
- Field Experiences: Day-long workshops, held monthly (4 sessions) at locations around the region to introduce participants to local leaders, the diversity of the Valley, and an area's challenges, assets, and potential.
- Leadership Learning Labs: Each class will work in small teams to devise strategies to address one of the themes or challenges identified in the Plan for Progress. The teams will have time to meet on trainings days, but will also meet independently between monthly sessions.
Review a more detailed breakdown of our curriculum here.
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Team Projects
Each year, participants will divide into teams to tackle regional issues as an opportunity to utilize their leadership skills in a hands-on way.
- Youth Violence: AbovetheViolence assisted a community based organization in providing local youth with safe alternatives to the illegal and/or risky behaviors in which they may choose to engage.
- Workforce Development: The Canaries provided Westover Job Corps with a supplemental program designed to promote degree completion. The crux of this project lay in creating a sustainable model utilizing skills-based leadership curriculum, small-group shared experiences, and engaged mentorship that would continue after the completion of the project.
- Hunger: The Blue Team provided The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts a model for increasing volunteerism and food donations, as well as incorporating hunger issues into the curricula at colleges and universities throughout the Pioneer Valley, termed the College Engagement Model (CEM).
- Young Professionals: NGP3's mission continued to build on the work from the previous two incarnations of the Next Generation Pioneers by Next Generation Pioneers³ holding four focus groups in April 2014 with the purpose of generating dialogue among key stakeholders about attracting and retaining young professionals to and in the Pioneer Valley. As a result of these focus groups, NGP³ now has our own set of data to contribute to a greater goal-- the 2014 Plan for Progress 10-year Plan for attracting and retaining young professionals in the Pioneer Valley.
- Public Health: Project Oasis examined the intersection of two important movements: the local food movement and the movement to address hunger in our communities– with the aim of improving health outcomes for those in our region’s most food insecure communities. The project resulted in an asset map.
- Local School Bands: The Eagles facilitated two planning exercises to aid the Chicopee High School Band Boosters in clarifying their purpose and strategy. They also prepared a toolbox of resources designed to help the Boosters achieve their goal of gaining broader community support as well as a guidebook of recommendations for future Booster fundraising events
- Pioneer Valley History: The Pioneer Valley is full of historical sites, interesting artifacts, and legendary people and yet, there is no regional approach to the shared history of the Pioneer Valley. Team Trailblazers has sought to connect the past with the future and, through the use of social media, will inspire curiosity in others to discover our heritage.
