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Community Engagement

The NKY Chamber Leadership Programs promote community engagement and provide opportunities for meaningful involvement. As a talent retention strategy for our region, Leadership Northern Kentucky, Encounter NKY, and Regional Youth Leadership serve as a pipeline for developing leaders who will engage with their community to make our region a better place to live, work, play learn, and give back. Graduates are encouraged to seek opportunities to serve their community through appointment to boards, commissions, or elected office. Below are opportunities available in the Northern Kentucky Region.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FAQs

 

What are some ways to get involved in my community?

There are lots of options. They vary across interests – school, community, government, etc. They vary in intensity and requirements to participate. There are lots of things you can consider. We made a list of some options available.

Are there options besides elected office?

Absolutely! Elected officials get all the attention, but most engagement is non-elected. You should think about what interests you and choose a related engagement opportunity. Engaging could be as simple as signing up and showing up. Sometimes it can be more involved – like being appointed to a city board.

Are there educational programs to learn more about getting involved?

Yes, there are many programs that teach you about systems and how to engage within them. Here is a handy list of some educational programs. Different programs focus on different types of engagement.

What should I consider when choosing how to engage?

What most excites you when you think about getting involved? Supporting kids? Neighborhood beautification? Zoning regulation and economic development? Start simple – what engagement opportunity matches my interests? Within my interest area, what opportunity aligns with my availability? If you’re interested and it’s doable, reach out to whoever coordinates that engagement and get signed up!

What suggestions do you have for someone new to community engagement?

Don’t overthink it! Successfully engaged individuals started small. If you want to help in the schools, volunteer to be a lunch monitor or a One-to-One Reading Coach. Pick a place and start volunteering. If your aspirations are higher – like getting appointed or running for election – work toward that bigger position while still doing the smaller engagements. It is important to learn as you chart your path.

What suggestions do you have for someone who has tried to engage in the past and is looking for a refresh?

Find a new engagement opportunity where you can leverage your past experience(s). If you were a leader in past engagement, find an opportunity with a leader that needs support. Experience with finance or fundraising? Oh my gosh, so many organizations need those supports. But more importantly, make sure you’re passionate about the actual work being done. Too often we are drawn into engagements because of our skills, not our interests, and it is hard to engage fully and persistently.

How can the NKY Chamber help me engage?

We’re glad you asked! Using these resources to learn and engage is one way. Attending our events to learn and network. Applying to programs like Encounter NKY or Leadership Northern Kentucky are ways to really step up your engagement game.

PUBLIC SERVICE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

  • Appointed by the Women’s Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation – Single sessions held regularly to educate women interested in board/commission appointment (sample session video). Likely opening opportunities to men. Free.
  • Chamber of Commerce Leadership Programs – Operated by most Chambers of Commerce, these leadership programs focus on accelerating career advancement for mid-career professionals by developing their understanding of the communities in which they live.
    • Leadership Northern Kentucky -  an 8-month program to learn about issues in NKY and Greater Cincinnati.
    • Leadership KY – a 3-month program to learn about issues across the Commonwealth and network with leaders.
    • Leadership Cincinnati - An immersive civic engagement and development program for established leaders in c-suite or senior executive positions.
  • Citizens Academies – Offered by county and city governments to educate interested individuals about the operation of that local government. Multiple sessions across weeks/months.
  • Education Focused – leadership programs for school districts and potential school board candidates have proliferated over the last decade.
  • Nonprofit leadership programs
  • Youth Focused – programs geared toward school-age young adults.
    • Regional Youth Leadership - Modeled after Leadership Northern Kentucky, RYL is a 7-month community leadership development program for high school juniors in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
    • Youth Leadership Development program - Youth Leadership Development (YLD) is an after-school program through Brighton Center for middle school youth ages 11-15 to build leadership skills and conduct community service projects.
  • Programs Outside NKY
    • Kentucky Rural-Urban Exchange - RUX works to bridge divides and build connections among Kentuckians by meeting people, exploring place, and cultivating partnerships through annual weekend intensives and other programs.
    • EMERGE KY – female-focused candidate training.
    • BRIGHT Kentucky – YPs in Eastern Kentucky.
    • Leadership Louisville - Louisville Center’s “most trusted resource for leadership development, civic engagement and professional development.”
    • Leadership Lexington - Focused on “increased understanding of community dynamics and public issues.”

NKY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Government
  • Run for City Council – Registration deadlines are in January and June (depending on the city). Pre-filing financial paperwork with the state is required in order to register to run.
    • Advice: Reach out to someone currently serving on city council to learn more about the issues relevant to your city and the process of running for Council.
  • Seek appointments to commissions & boards – There are dozens of boards and commissions across NKY. Appointment processes vary per location and board type. Here is a list of prominent boards and commissions (add link).
    • Advice: Identify a board/commission you’re interested in and do your research. Online searches are a good start. Meeting with a board member or city/county representative who can walk you through the process and criteria for appointment is an important next step.
Education
  • For parents: Join your Parent-Teacher Organization. PTOs are a good way to get things done that benefit your kid(s) directly. They can also be a great gateway to running for Site Based Decision Making Council or School Board.
    • Advice: Do it! Your kid’s school needs you.
  • For parents: Site Based Decision Making Councils set policies at each school. Running for SBDMC is an excellent way to engage with your kid’s school. Most schools have information about SBDMC on their web pages.
    • Advice: Research the background of SBDMCs in Kentucky. Don’t overthink it if you’d like to do it. The process is simple and low barrier.
  • School Board – Boards of Education are elected positions that focus on district-level issues. You must be a resident of the school district. Filing deadlines are usually in June.
    • Advice: Meet with a current member of your BoE to learn more about the position and process for running.
Community
  • Join a Neighborhood Association – Beautification. Crime prevention. Socializing. These are some examples of the focus of your neighborhood association. Any way you look at it, this is the easiest way to get involved with the most potential for community and social benefit (at a low cost to you).
    • Advice: Join and recruit others to join. Neighborhood Associations are the lifeblood of community organizing.
  • Educational Programs – Programs like Leadership Northern Kentucky do an amazing job of educating and directing interested individuals toward engagement opportunities.
    • Advice: Find an educational program that is right for you [link to “public service education opportunities” doc]. Make sure you set an intention when you sign up for an educational program. Education without action is not engagement.
Issue-based
  • Volunteer at a Nonprofit – One of the best ways to engage on issues that matter to you is to volunteer with organizations doing the work. Most organizations have staff dedicated to volunteer coordination, so getting engaged can be simple.
    • Advice: Meeting with someone who works for a relevant nonprofit can help you identify the best place to engage. Many nonprofits work in a single issue area, but their approach and use of volunteers can vary widely. Good volunteerism begets more volunteering, so choose well.
  • Join a Nonprofit Board – Nonprofits have operating boards comprised of community members to oversee the operation of the organization. Serving on the board of a nonprofit is an excellent way to make a difference for an issue you find important. Note that requirements for board members vary widely and can involve a monetary obligation to the organization annually.
    • Advice: Many organizations have committees that support the work of the board. Volunteering for a committee can be an easy way to help the organization while auditioning for the board (and also learning if you want to up your engagement to the board level).
Politics
  • Volunteer with a political party – The Democratic and Republican Parties are active throughout NKY. If politics is your thing, you should get involved!
    • Advice: Find your local political party (by county) and send them a message saying you want to be involved. They will take it from there.
  • Volunteer with a political group (other than a party) – Organizations like the Tea Party and Kentuckians for the Commonwealth advocate for issues aligned with their organizational ideology. They work at the grassroots level to advance their priorities, often (but not always) aligning with more traditional political parties.
    • Advice: If you want to be engaged in politics but not with a political party, find yourself a political organization and reach out. It can help to meet with a someone you know that is politically active and aligned with your ideology to learn about the organizations you should consider.
Youth-focused
  • Teen Court - A division of District Court, Teen Court enables local high school students from Boone, Campbell, and Kenton Counties to experience the wheels of justice first-hand. After a period of training, members of Teen Court hear cases involving actual juvenile offenders who are referred to the court for sentencing by a true jury of their peers and represented and prosecuted by members of Teen Court.
Leadership

LEARN MORE

Have questions about any of the community engagement opportunities above? Contact Ann Marie Whelan, Director of Leadership, at 859-578-6398 or amwhelan@nkychamber.com.

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