The world of the public manager and the leader is evolving at a speed that baffles and challenges.

• Local governments are increasingly being asked to do more with less.
• Federal and state support is declining.
• Citizens are demanding a more caring, responsive government.
• New technology is revolutionizing communication.

To respond to these forces, our local governments must become laboratories for a new style of organization - one grounded in basic democratic values and guided by a collective vision of community-building and empowerment.

To take our communities confidently into the future, public leaders and executives must adopt a proactive approach to change both inside the public organizationand outside in the community. They must invest the time and resources required for themselves and thier leadership team to create and maintain a continuously improving, learning organization.

The University of Virginia offers an integrated approach to professional development for local government leaders and managers.