A glance at the mission statement for Leadership Redding reveals words like education, encouragement, connecting, action, active.  Leadership Redding is all of these and more.  For more than 20 years, Leadership Redding has been dedicated to transforming residents into engaged citizens.  Whether lifelong residents or community newcomers, members of each class have the opportunity to grow as individuals and develop as community members.

Through a series of daylong sessions, class members have a chance to meet community leaders, policy makers, and everyday citizens who are involved with the issues that reflect the day’s headlines.  Class members also spend time together, getting to know one another, sharing, and growing.  A session can be very intense and it can be a lot of fun.  As a graduate of the class of 2001-2002, I can promise that it will be unforgettable. 

As Leadership Redding moves into its third decade, its strengths are many.  As a program of the Shasta Regional Community Foundation, we enjoy the support of a valuable local institution.  Quality applications for the limited number of spaces in the class give us the pleasant challenge of having to create the right class mix from first-rate candidates.  The financial contributions from our sponsors keep tuition affordable and the organization financially solid. 

As Redding has grown and prospered, so has Leadership Redding.  As the issues and concerns facing the community have changed, the curriculum has adapted.  The one thing that has remained constant is the enthusiasm of the Steering Committee to make this year the Best Class Ever.  Please visit our web site at www.leadershipredding.com for more information.  If you are considering becoming a member of next year’s class or a sponsor of the program, I encourage you to talk to me, or to any other alumnus of the program.  I can guarantee our enthusiasm will be contagious. 

Anne Butterfield Kerns

Leadership Redding Steering Committee Chair, 2007-2008