Neighbor News
Bergen ‘LEADS’ Extends Enrollment for the Class of 2024
Civics program in Bergen County to Host its 17th Offering in Leadership and Professional Development for Area Residents, Workers
As County Becomes Post-Pandemic Accessible, Bergen ‘LEADS’ Citizens
to Understand and Implement Solutions to Social Problems More than 400
More than 400 program alums advance careers with civic training and executive coaching program
About Bergen LEADS Program:
Bergen LEADS is a 10-month interactive, fast-paced, and experiential leadership program for adults living or working in Bergen County. Participants learn about issues from leaders in the field, site visits, coaching corners, and expert panels. Bergen LEADS helps you see your community – and yourself – through new eyes.
Find out what's happening in Paramusfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“Bergen LEADS had a huge impact on my personal and professional life,” said Jeanne Martin, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels North Jersey, who graduated from the program in 2013.
“As a ninth generation Bergen County resident, I thought I knew everything there was to know about the county. I could not have been more wrong! (The program) gave me a whole new view of our wonderful county,”she said.
“As an alumna of the Bergen LEADS program, I not only worked on an aging in place social project but made a career move from Director to CEO in the local non-profit arena. We see the program maintain a balanced approach to civic learning and executive coaching so that it remains unbiased, challenging, and offers exclusive access to government bodies and public entities,” said Bergen Volunteers CEO Nina Bachrach, who graduated from the program in 2018. The program is in its 17th offering and runs from this September to June 2024.
Find out what's happening in Paramusfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Topics include:
Government, healthcare, nonprofits, education, culture, industry, environment, law and public safety, and coaching includes discovering personality profiles, communication, strategic planning, board training, crisis management, executive coaching, networking, civic engagement, and influencing.
Site visits have included:
Bergen County Detention Center, Unilever, Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, The top of the George Washington Bridge, Pony Power therapies, Bergen Applied Sciences, United Way Affordable Housing Project, and more.
Past class projects include:
Discovering affordable day care solutions, addressing food insecurity, mental health response, education, master planning, revitalization, arts and culture representation, aging in place, and more, often focusing on gig economy and business.
About Bergen Volunteers:
Bergen Volunteers is a New Jersey 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Founded in 1966, Bergen Volunteers provides human service and training programs to improve lives and strengthen communities. To learn more, visit bergenvolunteers.org and follow us on social media @bergenvolunteers. Let's include a link to the program. For more information and to apply, visit www.bergenvolunteers.org/bergenleads
