Earlier this year, Mayor Michelle De La Isla was chosen to participate alongside thirty-nine other Mayors from across the globe in the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative. The program offers leadership and management training to Mayors who lead cities with vision and purpose, and to two senior officials from each city who are most crucial to affecting organizational change. In addition to an intensive classroom experience, which the Mayor participated in back in July, the program works with each participating Mayor and city leader over the course of a year to foster their professional growth and the advancement of key capabilities within their city halls.
As part of the yearlong program work, the Mayor has chosen to build skills around community collaboration and has selected Momentum 2022 as her area of focus. With this, she was able to select eight additional community leaders to participate in the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative. These leaders, who have a key leadership role in our community and represent a sector of emphasis for Momentum 2022 will receive professional development and support, including an intensive four day training in the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative classroom in New York City. This all at no expense to the City of Topeka thanks to the generosity of Bloomberg Philanthropies.
“We are thrilled and honored to work with Bloomberg-Harvard,” said Michelle De La Isla, Mayor of Topeka. “We believe that our community leaders engaged in the implementation of Momentum 2022 will learn skills and bring back solutions through their educational experience with Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative. The training these leaders will receive will grow their knowledge, skills and abilities, thus, empowering them to not only effect the goals our community is seeking to achieve through Momentum 2022, but to challenge and execute in other areas that benefit our community. One can never underestimate the gift of education. Thanks to Bloomberg Harvard we are building a very special capacity in our city. ”
Representing Topeka are:
Leading the Momentum 2022 Strategic Plan – Kayla Bitler, Sr. VP Momentum 2022
Representing the Develop Home Grown Talent Pillar – Dr. Julianne Mazacheck, Washburn University Dean of Academic Affairs
Representing the Creating Vibrant and Attractive Places Pillar – Keith Warta – CEO Bartlett and West and Tri Chair of Momentum 2022
Representing the Growing a Diverse Economy Pillar – Matt Pivarnik, CEO of the Greater Topeka Partnership
Representing the Promote a Positive Image Pillar – Mike Padilla – Councilman District 5 and member of the Engagement Committee
Representing the Collaborate for a Strong Community Pillar – Marsha Pope, CEO of the Topeka Community Foundation and Shanae Holman, Executive Director of Topeka JUMP
Representing the East Topeka Council – TD Hicks, Pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church
“We’re grateful to the leaders in our community who have agreed to give their time to participating in this program,” said Matt Pivarnik, President & CEO, Greater Topeka Partnership. “Specifically, I’d like to thank Mayor Michelle De La Isla for her leadership on initiatives that will be transformational for our community. Her selection of such a diverse and willing team will ensure maximum gains from this program.”
Representatives from the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative met with the team in Topeka on Tuesday, November 20 to kick-off the work. The program will officially begin in January of 2019.