Psychology Today says, “community provides belonging, support and identity.” Indeed, Santa Cruz County understands the power of community. We have united in the face of earthquakes, fires and Covid-19, to mention a few significant challenges. Through these tribulations, we have come together with collective solutions.
However, communities will always encounter new and unresolved or misunderstood old issues. The quality of our leaders is crucial in addressing these issues effectively.
We witness the outcomes and consequences of leadership daily, highlighting the importance of capable leaders. I want to share about an organization in our community whose mission focuses on leadership development: Leadership Santa Cruz County (LSCC).
Why LSCC
I spoke with Ryan Coonerty, executive director of LSCC, to understand why this organization is vital to our community. He believes “any community can thrive by the quality of its leadership, and that doesn’t just mean political leaders, but leaders in neighborhoods, businesses and nonprofits.” Ryan is dedicated to LSCC’s mission of “empowering more people to connect, learn, and then take action at whatever level they have time or capacity to do, in a way that benefits the community.”
On Aug. 20, the orientation for Class 38 began, with 56 students representing various businesses and nonprofits in our county. Ryan addressed the three major components of their leadership program.
“One key aspect is building a network of people who will pick up the phone when you call them to solve problems; their connections should span across our county.”
“Another purpose is to better understand the issues and challenges in our community, because if you don’t know the issues, how can you fix them? Finally, we help them see that they are not just leaders in their fields but part of the larger community, where their roles are critical to the opportunities we have.”
Ryan’s passion and commitment are evident in his goal of building a world-class leadership development program in our county. I am proud to mention that I was a part of Class 33, and I know firsthand the value this program brings. Below is a brief synopsis of what this year-long program offers.
I attended as a solopreneur, but many local businesses and nonprofits send their employees and managers, whom their organizations financially support, as are the various sponsors and partners who help subsidize LSCC programs. LSCC is a nonprofit organization, and community support is important and appreciated.
Connecting Current & Future Leaders
Class 38 for the 2024-25 year is a 10-month program that meets one Friday each month from September through May, with graduation in June. After orientation, participants attend a leadership retreat at Mt. Hermon for team-building exercises.
The other programs include onsite visits and development training that address issues and challenges related to housing and economics, health and human services, business and tourism and government. Also, participants interact with leaders in programs in our educational and criminal justice systems.
They visit the agricultural locations, experience the richness of our art and cultural sites, and explore our environmental and industrial natural resources and sustainable industries.
For more details on how becoming educated about the challenges and issues in our community can shape informed leaders, visit their website leadershipsantacruzcounty.org.
Ryan believes the program’s structure respects our geographical diversity, allowing participants to learn about the issues, find sustainable ways to meet the challenges and provide realistic solutions.
One Last Observation
I asked Ryan about the “why” behind LSCC’s importance and the program’s impact. His response was both hopeful and pragmatic: “We are the second smallest county in California, and our entire city population is one-third the size of San Jose. But I believe we could do a better job of getting to know each other in our county, and that’s something we can achieve through these programs.”
“Our program objective is to connect us all. For instance, in the Valley, we can gain a real understanding of the agricultural industry, or how the mid-county understands the water issues in the Valley. Water issues in our Valley are real.”
“We are far more interconnected than we realize, and we have a huge amount of opportunity when we work together collaboratively across our county.”
It is important to note that orientation night not only addressed their “Why” for attending the program, but the icebreaker exercise for their first teamwork challenge, “The Balloon Builders Challenge,” immediately tested their leadership capabilities with laughter, camaraderie and fun engagement.
Janet Janssen is a Life in Business and Speaker Coach. She offers coaching, team building and ice breaker exercises for business teams and public speaking training. She also is an active board member of LSCC and works with local Chambers of Commerce in the Valley. Visit JanetJanssen.com or email [email protected] for more information.
