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Have you heard about the new Oxnard Leadership program? It's an initiative of the Oxnard Foundation for Education and Economic Development, a charitable 501c3 organization founded by the Oxnard Chamber. Why would this program be a good investment in the future? Just ask some of this year's participants! They have dedicated one Friday each month for 10 months to learn more about the community they live and/or work in. Their feedback has more positive than we expected. What's in it for them? Experiences that will stay with them the rest of their lives. The comprehensive program provides participants with amazing exposure to what makes the community work. Here's a rundown on the sessions that made up the 10-month curriculum. History – Oxnard historian Jeff Maulhardt escorted the group on tours of the Historic Farm Park, the Maulhardt Home Ranch, the original sugar beet factory, the Carnegie Art Museum, and Heritage Square. This was a great foundation for all the sessions that followed. Government – This day started at the County Government Center where County Executive Office Mike Powers gave a "state of the County" presentation. Supervisor John Zaragoza briefed the group on the role of county government. That was followed by a visit from Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, who updated participants on current state legislation. The group also went to the city of Oxnard to receive presentations from City Manager Gregg Nyhoff and a number of his department heads. Commerce – The Leadership class started this day at the Port of Hueneme where they received a briefing and an extensive tour of the port. They also received a presentation on the Ormond Beach area and its unique, sensitive environment. They completed the day by touring four different commands at Naval Base Ventura County. Public Safety – This was one of the highlights of the program. Participants were given tours of the Ventura County Sheriff's Office crime lab and jail. They were also given a briefing at the Oxnard Police Department, followed by a tour and demonstration at the Oxnard SWAT training facility. Education – This was an information-packed day with tours and briefings at the Oxnard Union High School District and Pacifica High School, Oxnard School District (elementary), and Oxnard College that included a tour of the new dental hygiene teaching facility. Health Care and Human Services – This day started with a briefing by the CEO of St. John's Hospital, Darren Lee. The group also received a public policy presentation from the Hospital Association of Southern California, followed by a tour and a hands-on demonstration of St. John's robotic surgery center. The group rounded out the day with a visit to a food pantry in La Colonia and a tour of FOODShare. Agriculture – Our thanks to John Krist of the Ventura County Farm Bureau for coordinating and escorting the Leadership group on an amazing tour through the county. We started at John's office for an overview on Ventura County crops and farming. Then the group traveled to Associates Insectary in Santa Paula (who knew that existed?), followed by a presentation and tour of Saticoy Lemon Association packinghouse. We visited the McGrath organic farm in Camarillo, and completed the day with a tour and briefing at Southland Sod’s hydroponic / substrate raspberry production. Public Services – This day was packed with information. We went to the Advance Water Purification Facility, the wastewater treatment plant, the city's maintenance yard (including fleet maintenance), the water campus, and the Del Norte Regional Recycling and Transfer Station. It's amazing what the city's Public Works Department takes care of every day! Media and Ethics – This day covered two topics. The media portion began at the Ventura County Star with conversations with reporters and a discussion on how the newspaper business has evolved in the past decade. Linda Le Brock of the Pacific Coast Business Times also made a presentation. There was a tour of the VC Star production facility. The group traveled to Lazer Broadcasting to learn about radio and the Spanish market. The day finished with a presentation and conversation on ethics with Genevieve Evans Taylor, Ph.D from CSU Channel Islands. Energy – This final session will be held on October where the Leadership cohort will be exposed to the energy facilities in Oxnard and Ventura County, how energy production is changing, and what we are doing to address the demand for energy. Oxnard Leadership is obviously an extensive, well-rounded program! One of the benefits of investing in time and tuition is the impact on each participant. Those who go through the program come out with more self-esteem. They have made contacts that will help them in their professional and personal lives. They develop a better understanding of how the world around them works. And, they gain a deep appreciation for what other people do for a living that makes their lives better.