Note: at the time of this publication, the board is refining the vision
and mission statements. Below are draft vision and mission statements.)

The Leading Institute (TLI) is a leading hub of knowledge on leader-
ship and management issues in community development and urban
planning. The TLI approach to effective, reflective and collaborative
leadership is a model for progressive organizations and communities
dealing with issues in community development and urban planning.

....• TLI improves professional practice in community development
......and urban planning by building the leadership and management
......capacity of professionals and working with individuals, organi-
......zations and communities.
....• TLI provides leadership needs assessments and training programs
......in organizational development, management, interpersonal
......communications and other leadership and management issues
......(as deemed appropriate by its board) to public, private, and
......nonprofit organizations throughout the United States.
....• TLI services combine to complement and advance the mission
......and vision of planning and community development organizations
......at all levels of public engagement.
....• TLI’s uses combinations of research, training and technical assis-
......tance to help communities, organizations, groups and practitioners
......address current problems and build viable strategic plans.
....• TLI collaborates with organizations in the community develop-
......ment and planning fields to represent the principles of collaborative
......leadership and promote the exercise of values-based management.

Note: Community development and urban planning are broadly
defined as matters that deal with improving quality of life oppor-
tunities for geographic and cultural communities.

The Leading Institute started in 2002 as APA/LeadershipPlenty. APA/LeadershipPlenty was modeled on LeadershipPlenty, a
grassroots training program designed by the Pew Partnership for
Civic Change, a project of the Pew Charitable Trust in collaboration
with some of the country's leading thinkers on leadership and civic
engagement. The program is based on the premise that individuals
operate in communities of abundance. The initial program design is
built on training modules that strengthen leadership skills vital to active
civic communities. The American Planning Association (APA)
collaborated with the Pew Partnership to create a flexible curriculum to
focus on mid-level and mid-career professionals involved in community
enhancement and planning. This includes members of CBOs and
CDCs, practicing planners who work in community planning, and
individuals committed to improving quality of life conditions in low
and moderate-income neighborhoods. Find out more about participant
eligibility requirements.

APA/LeadershipPlenty program was produced in 2003 by the Planners
for Ethnic and Cultural Diversity Committee of the APA's New York
Metro Chapter. Committee members are committed to increasing the
overall diversity of the planning profession, as well as increasing the
influence of traditionally underrepresented groups in planning practice. APA/LeadershipPlenty was hosted by Milano, the New School for Management and Urban Policy.

In 2005, APA/LeadershipPlenty was offered in New York (at New
School University) and New Jersey (at the Edward J. Bloustein
School of Planning and Public Policy, of Rutgers, the State
University of New Jersey)

The Executive Class program was added in 2005, and the APA/
LeadershipPlenty Board of Directors formally changed the name of
the collective programs to The Leading Institute. The core APA/
LeadershipPlenty program also changed names, becoming Leading
from the Middle. The change reflects the board's wishes for TLI to
become a hub of learning in leadership and management.