Institute
for Developing and Emerging Area Leaders (IDEAL) Program
(Evelyn Tolbert
is a Program Fellow)
The
Great
Valley Center
is
a public policy organization that provides the tools, resources, and information
to decision makers throughout the Central Valley to equip them with the
tools to make well-informed decisions. The philosophy of the Great Valley
Center is that the Central Valley is a separate entity. It is not an extension
of the Bay Area but is a region with its own identity, issues and challenges.
The Great Valley Center is taking a leadership role at a time when the
Central Valley is at a crossroads in terms of development and protection
of its resources.
The Great Valley Center has established the Institute for Developing and
Emerging Area Leaders (IDEAL). Each year applications are accepted and
new program fellows are drawn from all segments of the various communities
of the Central Valley. This diverse cross-section is made up of farmers,
farm labor advocates, city council members, developers, state agency employees,
and business owners. By bringing together individuals from areas throughout
the Valley, IDEAL stresses the importance of collaborative community leadership.
The program provides a crash course in land use, economics, agriculture
and conservation in the Central Valley. The group examines not only a
variety of agricultural issues, but also the interrelationship of water,
food safety, global economies, trade, and immigrant workforce concerns.
For more information on the program and for applications, please contact
the IDEAL program at (209) 522-5103.
Evelyn Tolbert, one of the participants in the first IDEAL class, graduated
in 1999. Ms. Tolbert enrolled as an IDEAL Fellow to participate in the
intense, comprehensive course of learning, exploration, and exchange of
ideas with other emerging leaders throughout the Central Valley. She sought
to enhance her knowledge of the critical issues which affect Tracy's immediate
future. The IDEAL experience has proven to be invaluable in helping Evelyn
Tolbert make the right decisions for Tracy and its future.
This page
last updated: 07/03/02
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