Effective Leadership and Community Involvement Subjects of New College of Political Knowledge at Colorado State

Ever thought about running for office? Do you want to become more politically astute or be an effective leader for your community? The Department of Educational Outreach at Colorado State University has designed a series of workshops through the new College of Political Knowledge to teach aspiring public servants the fundamentals of running for public office.

The workshops will run four consecutive Saturday mornings from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. beginning Sept. 8 in the City Council Chambers at 300 LaPorte Ave. in Fort Collins. The cost of the course is $65 for all four sessions.

The series will focus on preparing individuals for public service with an emphasis on issues awareness, civility and consensus-building skills with a clear understanding of the customary challenges that go along with this type of work.

"There is an urgent need for citizens who have a knowledge of our communities to get involved in the political system," said Rep. Steve Johnson, who represents Larimer and Weld counties. "The College of Political Knowledge is a great way for citizens to learn about effective and constructive ways of building public policies for the good of everyone in Northern Colorado."

Individual lectures and panel discussions have been designed for participant interaction in a wide variety of topics ranging from campaign finance, researching public policy, defining a vision, preparing for a successful debate to becoming a volunteer on a community board. The sessions will be lead by experts from all levels of government as well as professors from Colorado State.

"We’ve kept this program as affordable as possible to encourage people to explore giving back to their communities," said Maureen Carrigan, program manager. "Whether they’re interested in becoming a volunteer on a community board, an elected official or an appointed leader, this workshop will raise their awareness and open doors."

The College of Political Knowledge is a nonpartisan, public service presented by Colorado State in partnership with the city of Fort Collins and the Larimer County League of Women Voters.

For more information, contact the Department of Educational Outreach at (970) 491-5288 or register online at www.learn.colostate.edu.