The Community Leadership Series (CLS) is a nine-month program designed to familiarize participants with the challenges and opportunities that face the Harrisburg area. CLS was the program that launched Leadership Harrisburg Area in 1986.

Now in its third decade, CLS remains LHA’s most well-known program. This leadership training opportunity is open to professionals who are established in their careers and now seek ways to serve their community. Candidates for the program are chosen through a competitive process.

For the applicant:

• The Selection Process
• Criteria For Selection
• Time Commitment
• Tuition
• The Application
• On-line Application

For the sponsor:

• Benefits to Your Organization
• Selecting Your Candidate
• Your Investment
• On-line Sponsor Form

• Approximately 35 participants are selected each year from various sectors of the community.
• Diversity of representation is carefully considered. Given this factor and limited class size, some highly qualified candidates are not selected. Therefore, we encourage applicants to reapply.
• We generally do not accept more than one candidate from a sponsoring organization in each class.

• Interest in serving the Capital Region through volunteer roles.
• Availability of time to participate in the Leadership Harrisburg Area program.
• Residing or working in the Capital Region; who will serve the Capital Region.
• Ability to set and achieve personal goals resulting in a position in their career field which reflects significant achievement, relative to age and experience and/or:
• potential for leadership demonstrated through involvement in community service
• potential for achieving policy shaping or leadership positions in employment or volunteer organizations
• It is preferred:
• that applicants are 30 years of age or older
• that applicants have at least one year of residence in the Capital Region and the intention to remain in the foreseeable future

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• The nine-month training program includes a 2-day, overnight retreat followed by eight monthly full day sessions and a Saturday workshop (approximately 100 hours in total).
• You will need to be released from work for the Friday retreat and eight full day sessions. (An attendance requirement for graduation includes missing no more than 16 hours.)

08-09 Community Leadership Series Schedule:

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• Tuition for the program is $2,500.
• Each participant is expected to make a minimum personal financial commitment of $200 towards tuition. The remaining $2,300 may be paid by the employer, individual or other source.
• A limited number of partial scholarships are available to individuals who would not otherwise be able to participate. Contact the LHA office for more details.

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• You can receive an application form by contacting the LHA office or visiting our website.
• The application is available from January through May of each year. Deadline for admission changes each year, but is typically at the end of May.
• Successful candidates will be advised and invoiced for tuition by July 1st.
• Contact the LHA office should you need additional information.

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• Tuition for the program is $2,500.
• Each participant is expected to make a minimum personal financial commitment of $200 towards tuition. The remaining $2,300 may be paid by the employer, individual or other source.
• The nine month training program includes a 2-day, overnight retreat followed by eight monthly full day sessions and a Saturday workshop (approximately 100 hours in total).
• Your employee/participant will need to be excused from work for the Friday retreat and eight full day sessions. (An attendance requirement for graduation includes missing no more than 16 hours.)

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