Linda R. attends seminar

from the 12/9/05 Echo Press...
United Way director attends seminar

Alexandria resident Linda Roles recently completed  "Mission Possible:  Social Change Facilitation," which was led by Arthur Himmelman and Tom Wolff. Roles, director of the Heart of Lakes United Way, was one of 17 local leaders to participate in the training sponsored by West Central Initiative. Tom Wolff, trainer, commented, "We worked with a high skilled group of community leaders and built their capacity to do social change facilitation.  The focus was on learning more about their individual leadership styles, facilitating problem solving, priority setting and managing conflictual situations."  Nancy Straw, president of West Central Initiative, said, "Many communities in our region are working on complex community issues. We believe the best way to help communities help themselves is by building the local capacity of skilled professionals within the communities we serve." The leaders trained have accepted a mission to build the capacity of their region by facilitating groups in pursuing positive social change. West Central Initiative (WCI) is a public foundation serving Becker, Clay, Grant, Douglas, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse and Wilkin counties in west central Minnesota. WCI provides programs and resources in the areas of quality employment, workforce issues, family and community.