Join Us at the Chinook Institute 2021

The Chinook Program is the premier development program for leadership in the public interest in western North America. This six-day resident event is scheduled from Sunday, October 3 until Friday, October 8, 2021.

Based on a tradition started in 1989 at the University of Oregon, the Chinook Program brings top level elected and career officials from all walks of public, not-for-profit, and community life together for a week of intense learning and discovery.

Top level faculty from university and consulting realms provide a remarkable learning experience that can only be described at life-changing. The Chinook Program helps leaders grow in their knowledge, strength, wisdom, courage, and impact.

Positions for the event are limited so please fill out our electronic application and apply early. You can also download the Chinook 2021 Program Flyer (PDF).

The Program helps participants learn about:

  • INDIVIDUAL TRANSFORMATION AND LEADERSHIP
    Self-awareness of one’s personality, skills, and strengths will help define leadership strengths and potential. Putting these in the context of working in diverse teams and relationships creates greater skills in building powerful, motivated teams.

  • UNDERSTANDING CATALYTIC LEADERSHIP
    Gain insight into leading successfully through the complex issues facing civic and public organizations where no single person or organization can act truly independently.

  • CREATING AND LEADING TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE
    Moving organizations and communities through difficult change can be hard, but it is necessary in a quickly changing world. Organizations, be they public or private, who don’t stay out in front of change will be rendered irrelevant in time.

  • REACHING AGREEMENTS
    Leadership without forging agreements that cross difficult barriers is destined to fail in the interconnected world. Participants, through role play and analysis of examples, will learn new skills focused on winning through mutual gain, not winning be beating the other party.

  • UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF LEADERSHIP
    The imperative for leadership will be explored. Having leadership skills is one thing. Having the motivation, passion, and drive to use them is another. Participants will focus on what they can bring to the table, why that is important, and how they can best express that in their leadership roles.

  • STRUCTURES FOR SUCCESS
    Understanding the power of relationships, vision, aspiration, and focus. Looking to proven, successful leadership for insight, skills and wisdom.

  • TYING IT TOGETHER TO MAKE IT WORK
    Building on the imperative for leadership, the program closes with a deep look at the framework for applying the skills learned, and creating a context for applying those skills as new wisdom and action in the real world.

Join Us at the Chinook Institute 2018

The Chinook Program is the premier development program for leadership in the public interest in western North America.

Based on a tradition started in 1989 at the University of Oregon, the Chinook Program brings top level elected and career officials from all walks of public, not-for-profit, and community life together for a week of intense learning and discovery.

Top level faculty from university and consulting realms provide a remarkable learning experience that can only be described at life-changing. The Chinook Program helps leaders grow in their knowledge, strength, wisdom, and impact.

This is a six-day resident event from Sunday, May 6 until Friday, May 11, 2018.

Positions for the event are limited so please fill out our electronic application and apply early.

Keys to Community Prosperity

The Chinook Institute for Civic Leadership, The Heartland Center for Leadership Development, and Rural Development Initiatives, Inc., present a powerful three-day conference on Community Prosperity.

Drawing on the Heartland Center’s program, HomeTown Competitiveness, and adding lessons and insight based on the real needs and situations in Oregon, this conference promises to be a milestone in helping communities define the success they realistically wish to achieve and developing capacity and strategies for getting there.

Participants will leave with strong frameworks for moving forward to lead important work in their own communities.

October 27, 28, and 29, 2014
Location: Oregon Gardens - Silverton Oregon

Registration will open mid-June.

Keys to Community Prosperity

The Chinook Institute for Civic Leadership, The Heartland Center for Leadership Development, and Rural Development Initiatives, Inc., present a powerful three-day conference on Community Prosperity.

Drawing on the Heartland Center’s program, HomeTown Competitiveness, and adding lessons and insight based on the real needs and situations in Oregon, this conference promises to be a milestone in helping communities define the success they realistically wish to achieve and developing capacity and strategies for getting there.

Participants will leave with strong frameworks for moving forward to lead important work in their own communities.

October 27, 28, and 29, 2014
Location: Oregon Gardens - Silverton Oregon

Registration will open mid-June.

Resiliency in the Heat of Public Service: Using Our Emotional Intelligence to Survive and Thrive

Public service professionals deserve resilience, too! It’s a difficult trick: facing changes in our organizations and our own departments in challenging times and still maintaining our personal productivity, creativity and health.

Resilience is a foundational key in keeping our boat upright and on a steady course. With improved resilience comes both improved emotional and physical wellness and performance improvement because it reduces the invisible costs of being present at work yet distracted by emotional noise.

Improve your own abilities to understand and use practical emotional intelligence skills to be more resilient and to better manage the stressful situations in today’s difficult economic and political times. Participate in this informative and lively session and apply practical resilience tools to improve your own resilience and emotional intelligence quotient.

September 17, 2014
Clackamas County Public Service Building
Oregon City, Oregon