SCLN Staff

The Southern California Leadership Network's mission is to develop a productive network of exemplary and diverse leaders in the business, government and community sectors who are capable of addressing the critical challenges facing the Southern California region. For more information, visit www.leadershipnetwork.org

CROSSBORDER MANUFACTURING AND GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS: Leadership Southern California 2009 Fellows visited San Diego and Mexico on March 19-20 to focus on security, the economy, manufacturing, and other issues and trends currently shaping the crossborder region. At left, half of the group visits Plantronics, a leading manufacturer of bluetooth headsets, whose plant in Tijuana has garnered numerous awards for excellence. The other half of the class visited Kyocera in Tijuana. Read more about the seminar below. View SCLN photo galleries.

Join alumni for leadership initiative on water in Southern California, May 15 - 17
Southern California's drought conditions require today's most effective civic leaders to understand water in Southern California- from the Colorado River to our tap. Join fellow alumni on a Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) study trip looking at Southern California's water supply along the Colorado River, May 15-17. Lodging and meals are sponsored by MWD. Please note this trip is open to SCLN current Fellows, alumni, Board members and sponsors only. Space is limited. Register by May 1.

Application and schedule now available for Leadership Southern California Class of 2010
In response to the current global economic climate, SCLN is pleased to launch a new leadership skills development component for our 2010 class focused on the economic trends affecting our business climate and the road to recovery. Participants will have an enhanced understanding of the trends and indicators shaping our regional economy and its future. SCLN is recruiting the best and brightest regional leaders to participate in this 10-month Leadership Southern California program, in which Fellows experience the people, places and trends shaping Southern California's major counties, including San Diego and the crossborder region. View more information, including seminar dates, and apply now.

SCLN convenes business, arts and tourism leaders to discuss innovative partnerships
Through a partnership with the LA Stage Alliance, and funding from The James Irvine Foundation, SCLN launched its Business & Arts Partnership for Innovation leadership initiative with an initial convening of a group of leaders from Bank of America, The Boeing Company, City of Los Angeles, The Cultural+Planning Group, L.A. Inc., SONY Pictures Entertainment, The Walt Disney Company, and West Hollywood Marketing and Visitor's Bureau, to brainstorm ideas for partnerships between the business community and the arts to advance cultural vitality, regional competitiveness and innovation. SCLN’s goal over the next 24 months is to begin to organize an unprecedented arts and business partnership in L.A. that will capitalize on our region, maintain its creative advantage and ensure that it is nurtured to its fullest potential. Track SCLN's Community Initiatives online.

SCLN launches individual giving campaign 2009
In Southern California, a means to connect leaders in the business, government and non-profit sectors who can transmit relevant knowledge about the region's assets and opportunities is critically important. SCLN works to ensure leaders in our region are well connected and prepared to address quality of life issues across all counties in this mega-region. To continue this work in 2009 and beyond, SCLN needs your help. Your generous and tax-deductible support will help improve some of SCLN's most important network-building activities. Please view our circles of support and donate now.

Leadership L.A. 2009 experiences Los Angeles arts, culture and creative economy
The Leadership L.A. Class of 2009 continued its nine-month program with a session on April 3 focusing on arts, culture and creativity in Los Angeles, beginning with an overview of the creative sector's contribution to the economy by Jack Kyser, Chief Economist, Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation. Fellows also met with arts leaders in the education, performing arts, fashion and media fields, and experienced case studies focused on arts institutions on North Grand Avenue, the Japanese American National Museum and Inner-City Arts to see first-hand the variety of arts and cultural opportunities in Los Angeles. “The day of the solo entrepreneur is going away,” said Bob Bates (pictured above), Artistic Director and Co-Founder, Inner-City Arts. “We need partnerships, collaboration.” The class concluded with Laura Zucker, Executive Director, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, who discussed the importance of making a commitment to the arts in Los Angeles. View photo gallery.

Leadership Southern California travels to border to look at economy and security
The Leadership Southern California Class of 2009 visited San Diego and Mexico, March 19-20, to study a range of issues including the Southern California-Mexico relationship, security concerns in the region, crossborder manufacturing at Plantronics and Kyocera, health care and arts and culture. Many of the crossborder leaders discussed the importance of Mexico to the California economy, and emphasized the need for additional security, smoother border crossings and upgraded infrastructure. "With the uncertainty in Mexico comes an enormous opportunity to build goodwill and enhance partnerships between the United States and Mexico. That's the good thing to come out of this," said David Shirk, director of Trans-Border Institute and assistant professor in the Department of Political Science, University of San Diego. View photo gallery.