On Thursday, November 13, 18 community leaders graduated from the City’s ten-week course in civic engagement. Participants were exposed to local government in the areas of history and structure, economic development, partnerships, regionalism, municipal finance and conflict resolution. This year’s outstanding slate of speakers included Dan Gilmartin of the Michigan Municipal League, Lou Glazer of Michigan Futures, Inc., Professor Emeritus Lynn Harvey, David Hollister of Prima Civitas, Steve Webster of MSU, EL School superintendent David Chapin, city manager Ted Staton, Denise Peek of Entrepreneur Institute of Mid-Michigan, Jeff McAlvey of McAlvey, Merchant & Associates, Arnold Weinfeld of the MML, Karen Beauregard of the Dispute Resolution Association of Michigan, various city department heads and even three actors from the Lansing Civic Players who assisted with a conflict resolution exercise. Sen. Gretchen Whitmer (D- East Lansing) graciously took time out of her busy schedule to deliver the graduation keynote.

This year, a conscious decision was made to dig into the economic development/municipal finance pieces of the program. Starting with Dan and Lou’s presentations, the message that our state’s economic recovery can only be achieved by lifting up our communities, one by one was reinforced throughout. Participants learned about “thinking small” as in celebrating the creation of one and two jobs – the days of old in which hundreds of manufacturing jobs would come to town, are gone. Dan Gilmartin referred to this as the long-tail theory.

In keeping with our objective to explore entrepreneurialism in support of the creation and sustenance of small businesses, we held a panel discussion at the Technology Innovation Center. This particular session, which included three entrepreneurs who are using this incubator space to launch their businesses, was one of the best sessions. Despite all the economic gloom and doom out there, optimism and energy of these entrepreneurs were palpable. Participants walked away from the session excited to tell everyone they know, about this space.

Participants also heard that the City must engage in the kind of growth and development that will attract the best and brightest (and hopefully the FRIB!) from around the world. Indeed, MSU’s Steve Webster informed them that fully 40-60% of MSU faculty members are on the eve of retirement so our city needs to offer the kind of amenities that will attract global talent.

None of this will occur without focused and informed leadership! As with last year’s “ELELP’s”, the 2008 cohort is an eager, inquisitive and thoughtful group that seems to appreciate the notion that economic recovery will occur through local growth and development. I commend all of them for taking the time to become educated about issues affecting the City and I look forward to seeing them in leadership positions on boards and commissions, neighborhood associations and ad hoc committees.