As part of our mission to help our members find joy in public service, ELGL offers high-quality, accessible, affordable learning opportunities in a variety of formats. This month, we’re opening applications to our next Level Up Cohort, focused on strategy & performance management with priority consideration for applicants who represent Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities and public agencies & programs which serve predominantly BIPOC communities and who want to invest in the long-term future of their communities but cannot afford it.
This week, ELGL and our partners at ClearPoint Strategy are excited to announce that applications are now open for the 2020 Strategy and Performance Management Cohort.
This is a three-month learning opportunity that helps local governments draft and implement a strategic plan quickly. ELGL and ClearPoint Strategy have built a rapid-learning framework to help local governments with limited resources quickly build a strategic plan and create the measures needed to track results.
This cohort is supported by ClearPoint Strategy, and includes significant scholarship funding to reduce barriers for local government professionals. Local governments who don’t have an active and well-managed strategic plan are encouraged to apply. Specific scholarship funding is reserved for high-priority applicants who represent Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities and public agencies & programs which serve predominantly BIPOC communities and who want to invest in the long-term future of their communities but cannot afford it.
Read more about the program and download the full PDF here.
Local government budgets are currently in disarray from the pandemic and associated closures, and the difficult decisions of budgeting, spending, and cutting programs are made more difficult by the lack of knowledge about how the pandemic will affect the country in the months to come. Further, the Black Lives Matter movement has highlighted some of the economic disparities among different communities. In every department, times of chaos are the perfect time to look to your strategic plan and align decisions with the priorities you’ve set – but for agencies without a plan, decisions are much harder. That’s where the ELGL-ClearPoint cohort comes in.
We will partner local governments experienced with strategy to those without a strong strategic plan, adding ClearPoint and ELGL experience to guide participants to jumpstart their strategic planning efforts. Within weeks, participants can expect to have a strategic plan framework, with measures that they can report on and relationships they can lean on to push through this year and future years to come. Plans will be actionable, measurable, and relevant – designed to help governments adapt to the challenges facing their communities in this unprecedented time.
Part of ELGL’s Local Gov Cohorts Program, this cohort is designed to help public service professionals identify opportunities, increase knowledge, and build relationships with peers across North America. Learn more about the cohort in the Program OverviewLocal government budgets are currently in disarray from the pandemic and associated closures, and the difficult decisions of budgeting, spending, and cutting programs are made more difficult by the lack of knowledge about how the pandemic will affect the country in the months to come. Further, the Black Lives Matter movement has highlighted some of the economic disparities among different communities. In every department, times of chaos are the perfect time to look to your strategic plan and align decisions with the priorities you’ve set – but for agencies without a plan, decisions are much harder. That’s where the ELGL-ClearPoint cohort comes in.
In addition to attending biweekly training sessions and optional networking opportunities, cohort participants will complete assignments that:
- Help them build a strategic plan that is actionable, measurable, and relevant to the challenges facing their communities in this unprecedented time.
- Encourage participants and mentors to build relationships that will support their strategic planning and performance management goals in the future.
Apply today for the 2020 Strategy & Performance Management Cohort!
Who’s eligible to participate?
Local governments who don’t have an active and well-managed strategic plan are encouraged to apply. Specific scholarship funding is reserved for high-priority applicants who represent Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities and public agencies & programs which serve predominantly BIPOC communities and who want to invest in the long-term future of their communities but cannot afford it. Up to 20 applicants will be selected. Applications will require a short 350-word essay identifying a challenge or problem area you’d like to focus on.
How much does it cost?
With generous funding from ClearPoint, this year’s cohort cost is only $750 (with a scholarship of $750 from ClearPoint). Partial and full scholarships for the remaining registration cost are available and can be applied for via the application form. All cohort materials, resources, and trainings are included, as is registration for the virtual #ELGL20 conference (October 12-16, 2020) where the cohort will present their work to attendees and access to the ClearPoint Strategy software for the duration of the cohort and for as long as the participant chooses to continue to utilize it.
What do I need to do to get a scholarship?
Specific scholarship funding is reserved for high-priority applicants who represent Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities and public agencies & programs which serve predominantly BIPOC communities and who want to invest in the long-term future of their communities but cannot afford it. Scholarship application details are included in the application form. You’ll provide a brief description (250 word maximum) of how the additional scholarship funds would benefit your community and enable your participation. Note that ALL applicants automatically receive the $750 scholarship from ClearPoint Strategy.
What is the timeline, and what are the time commitments?
Applicants must commit to roughly 8 hours per month of participation:
- A biweekly training call of 1.5 hours
- A monthly mentor call of 1 hour
- Up to six hours of asynchronous work that can be completed on your own time
This is a three-month program that begins on August 18 and runs through November 18, 2020. Applications are open from July 7 to August 7 and selections will be announced August 11, 2020.
Wait, do I get one of those cool rockstar mentors with this program?
Yes! As a participant in the cohort, you’ll be matched with an expert mentor from a city, county, or town with an involved and active strategic plan. This mentor will work directly with you throughout the cohort to help you develop and implement your own plan utilizing the ClearPoint strategic planning software, which is included at no additional cost.
What if I have more questions?
Download the program overview for more details. If you still have questions, contact Emily, our program manager, at emily@elgl.org.