The Santa Fe Future Program
Unlike leadership training programs, Santa Fe Future does not put you in a room and talk to you about leadership or community issues. Starting with the assumption that you're already a leader and that you already know something about community issues, it provides an opportunity for you and fellow participants to make connections with established community leaders throughout Santa Fe, discussing community issues with them. Such connections and discussions can help you build the kinds of relationships that will accelerate your involvement in community organizations, city government, and boards, giving you an opportunity to directly influence Santa Fe's present as well as its future.
During a compressed and intensive 12 weeks, you will meet and make connections with dozens of community leaders in a variety of areas: elected officials, business leaders, education leaders, developers, non-profit leaders, community activists, and more. During this time, you and other Santa Fe Future participants will develop a plan for a community project which you will "kick-off" by week 15, with local media and community leaders in attendance. Also, at that event, you will recognize and present awards to people and organizations whom, in your judgment, are doing valuable work in the community.
During the following five months, you will you will continue to make connections while implementing your community project, and report on its progress at the next Santa Fe Future group's "kick-off" event.
When you've completed the program, Santa Fe Future will help you become involved with boards, committees, and other opportunities you may have identified during your meetings with community leaders or the implementation of your project, where you can further your involvement and leadership in the Santa Fe community. Santa Fe Future is truly an opportunity that is whatever you decide to make of it.
The deadline for applications is June 30, 2008. Every applicant will be interviewed. Interviews are conducted in July, 2008 (see calendar for more details). The SFF Fall 2008 session begins September 2, culminating in an Awards/Community Project event December 12. January to May, 2009, is devoted to community project implementation.
Following the interview process, applicants will be contacted individually and informed of whether or not their application is successful. Reasons for a successful or unsuccessful application will be shared with each applicant, and unsuccessful applicants are encouraged to apply for future sessions.
There is a $250 participation fee, due at the beginning of the Fall session, September 2.