Voinovich Academy Upcoming Training
Contact Us
Voinovich Academy for Excellence in Public Service
91̽»¨ - Dublin Center
Suite 260
6785 Bobcat Way
Dublin, Ohio 43016
614.793.5667
GVAcademy@ohio.edu
Governing Essentials for Local Elected Officials: The Basic Course
An introductory course promoting a high-level understanding of topics essential to effective elected service at the municipal, township, and county level. Designed with newly elected officials in mind, the course is also appropriate for more experienced officials seeking a refresher, as well as individuals appointed and paid staff working in local government.
The curriculum is delivered by both seasoned practitioners and academic experts and is organized to fit the demanding schedules of participants. All sessions include practical information you will use immediately, plus opportunities to network and collaborate with peers.
This should be a mandatory course for any elected official.
Participant 2024 Cohort
There is so much information to learn that I feel this course is appropriate for anyone in public service- not just newbies. There is something to be said about always being a "student" of your craft.
- Participant, 2023 Cohort
The Curriculum
- Introduction to Governance. Friday, February 28, 2025, in-person
- This workshop discusses public service, the types of local government, intergovernmental relations, elected official and staff relations, and effective public meetings. The workshop includes an Ethics Overview and a panel discussion featuring experienced local government officials.
- Economic Development- Fundamentals. Wednesday, March 5, 2025, virtual
- This workshop reviews how to know and grow your community, the framework of economic development in Ohio, the role of local government in economic development and incentives for economic development.
- Infrastructure: Public Works, Planning and Development. Wednesday, March 19, 2025
- This workshop provides an overview of the role of public works in local government and explains key principles of the development process.
- Economic Development- Field Trip. Wednesday, April 2, 2025
- Go on an outing and explore economic development in central Ohio communities with the experts who make it happen.
- Finance: Your Community's Budget. Wednesday, April 16, 2025, virtual
- This workshop explores the fundamentals of local budgeting and the challenges facing local budgets.
- Safety and Communications/ Current Trends in Local Government. Friday,
April 25, 2025, in-person- The final workshop dives into how to prepare for a crisis, determining whether your city is prepared and the role of crisis communication and media relations. A presentation about a special topic facing local governments rounds out the day.
In-person workshops are 9 am-3 pm at a location in central Ohio. Virtual workshops are 9am- noon on a virtual platform.
Registration for the 2025 Governing Essentials program will begin in January 2025.
For questions or to be added to the mailing list for upcoming workshops, please email GVAcademy@ohio.edu
Leading in Appalachia 2024: Community Engagement
This is the 5th year of Leading in Appalachia, a leadership development program for those living and working in Appalachian Ohio.
This year's program will be offered entirely in-person!
- Learn skills to develop as a leader within your community and/or organization.
- Become part of a network of other new and emerging leaders in Appalachian Ohio.
- Engage with your cohort and community leaders through regular participation in a project to support the Little Cities of Black Diamonds and its annual Little Cities Day in October.
Find more information about the .
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
Workshops will be held on Wednesdays, with the exception of October. Workshops will be held on the 91̽»¨ campus in Athens unless otherwise noted below.
March 20 - Opening Retreat, 9-3
--at Stuart's Opera House in Nelsonville
April 17 - Asset Mapping, 9-12
May 15 - Effective Communication, 9-12
June 19 - It's a Great Idea, how do we pay for it?, 9-12
July 17 - Trauma informed leadership, 9-12
August 21 - An Insider's Guide to Non-profits, 9-12
September 18 - Appalachian Identity, 9-12
October - Little Cities Day (Date and Place TBD)
November 20 - Closing Retreat (location TBD), 9-12
Participants are asked to commit to all nine workshops.
There is no charge for participants from Appalachian Ohio.
Registration has closed for the 2024 program.
For more information contact Sarah Mitchell, mitches1@ohio.edu
Leading Complex Collaborations: Strategic Doing Practitioner Training
Strategic Doing enables leaders to design and guide new networks that generate innovative solutions. It is a strategy discipline that is lean, agile, and fast - just what organizations, communities, and the Appalachian region need to survive and thrive.
Strategic Doing practitioner training helps you move from talking about a problem to action. In two days, you will
- Learn key concepts of Strategic Doing.
- Learn and apply the 10 skills that comprise Strategic Doing.
- Engage in a workshop simulation to experience the Strategic Doing.
Practitioner training will help you develop skills to lead complex collaborations and to innovate in open, loosely connected networks in which "no one can tell everyone else what do to."
At the end of practitioner training, you are recognized as a Strategic Doing Practitioner and are ready to use the Strategic Doing process to facilitate a project or activity with a team, group, or coalition.
"Every element of the discipline is important, but understanding the practical relationship between assets, networks and individual accountability has delivered most 'Aha' moments."
Darryl Graves, Strategic Doing practitioner
Learn more about Strategic Doing.
Registration has closed for the June 2024 program.
For more information about Strategic Doing, please contact GVAcademy@ohio.edu.