Community Leadership Development is an exciting two-year diploma program that is designed to develop leadership competencies for working effectively with individuals, groups and organizations within communities to reach targeted goals. Students engage in a process of learning that has been designed to develop individual leadership capacity while also exploring and researching the social and economic situation of a community. Areas of skill development include communication skills, leadership development and problem-solving with a goal of becoming an agent for change and empowerment. Recent and relevant certifications are built into the program so that graduates are employment ready and set apart for immediate entry-level community leadership development work.

Community leadership development involves working with community agencies, non-profit organizations, and both the public and private sectors, along with the people they represent. Effectiveness in community leadership requires specific core competencies such as communication and listening skills, public relations and marketing, cultural intelligence, financial and project management, board governance and ongoing personal and professional development. Students will explore different leadership styles, best practices and models used when coordinating service delivery, managing projects, and evaluating services while responding to a variety of community needs, including working with diverse populations.

The focus of the program includes communications, psychology, sociology, human relations, leadership development, community development and social research, while features may include topics such as family studies, working with an aging population, child and youth justice, disability studies, mental health and addictions.