Leadership Academy

About the Program

Category: Personnel Management, Employment and Training (Best in Category)

Year: 2011

Multnomah County’s leadership Academy is an initiative to develop a diverse pool of candidates for future supervisory, executive-level, and mission-critical positions. The intensive leadership development program began in January 2010 and aims to enhance Multnomah County’s “bench strength” through an interactive and practical curriculum that expands participants’ understanding of self, local government, and leadership, while simultaneously promoting pride in public service. Its implementation reflects a strong partnership between Talent Development (Central Human Resources), which manages countywide training and organizational development, as well the eight departments that comprise Multnomah County, in addition to several non-departmental units as well. The Leadership Academy helps Multnomah County to grow diverse leaders. Improving the competence of county managers to manage a multicultural workforce has been a priority recommendation from several recent reports. Multnomah County is the most culturally diverse community in Oregon, and its demographics are changing considerably. The population is aging, with four generation represented in the workforce. Communities of color are increasing, with children of color totaling 45 percent of public school students. With this information in mind, Multnomah leadership Academy aims to develop high-potential employees with diverse life experiences who can promote inclusiveness and bridge differences of culture, ethnicity, race, age, and sexual gender orientation, among others.