The mission of the Good Government Initiative is to cultivate leaders of excellence in South Florida through the development and training of

elected officials as well as those aspiring to run for office, and to engage the community in its governance through outreach and education.

April 2015

Leaders of Excellence is a certificate program for elected officials who receive more than 60 hours of training in the nuts and bolts of government in South Florida

Takes place in August through November Within the past four years, we have trained 69 elected officials from over 30

different counties and municipalities including local state representatives. Class IV included 17 elected officials from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm

Beach counties

Leaders of Excellence

Good Government is the key to creating a community of lasting value for all residents

Topics included in the Leaders of Excellence Curriculum

Introductions and Building RelationshipsPurposeful & MindfulnessConversation with Senator Bob GrahamMaking Sense of Our Differences: Privilege,

Dominance, & Cultural Competencies

EthicsWhat Went Wrong – the Slippery Slope Ethics and Politics—How Do You Compromise

Without Being Compromised?

Budget, Finance and Sunshine Laws The Budget IS the Policy—How Do You Read This? Traditional & Innovative Financing: Options for Governments Feelin’ Hot Hot Hot: Operating Under Florida’s Sunshine Laws

Understanding and Application Elected Officials and Staff: Are You in a Healthy Relationship? Getting what you need from Tallahassee Ft. Lauderdale Case Study The Power of Community Collaboration in Leadership & Decision-

MakingLeading with a Prosperity Mindset & Data-Driven Decision

Making

Traditional and New Media Politicians and the Media – Can’t We All Just Get Along? Tweet, Tweet! OR I’m All Thumbs Lights, Camera, Action! Media Training

Land and Water Our Shared Resources: Planning for

Land and Water Where Decisions and Water Meet: A

Field Trip to Shark Valley

Real Estate Trends and Land Use Economic and Real Estate Trends

and Land Use and the Built Environment National Context Southeast Florida Economic and Real Estate

Trends Creating Today’s Economically Competitive

Communities and Regions

Planning and Zoning In Action Seven50 and Beyond Tactical Urbanism

What Electeds Need to Know: The Judiciary Understanding the Third Branch of Government Lessons from Life as an Ambassador Governing with New Tools – Applying the Lessons

Stats! Number of Women in Elected Offices

Number of women in Florida Legislature Senate: 12 30% House: 27 22.5%

Number of women in municipal government in Miami-Dade 62 women (194 elected officials in total)

Number of women on the County Commission 5 Women (13 elected officials in total)

Number of women on School Board 6 women (9 school board members total)

Number of women in U.S. House of Representatives• 84 female representatives

(19.3% of the body) (as of January 2015)

Number of women in U.S. Senate 20 women serving as senators

• 14 Democrats • 6 Republicans

(as of January 2015)

61%(42)

61%(42)

39%

(27)

Gender Stats of the Leaders of Excellence

Collaboration

• Anti Bullying LegislationSchool board members Nora (Broward) and Raquel Regalado (Miami-Dade) and Sen. Dwight Bullard.

• Supporting each others’ legislationCongressman Carlos Curbelo spoke in support of a comprehensive immigration reform resolution proposed by City of Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez .

• Puppy Mill BanCity of Hallandale Beach Commissioner Michele Lazarow has worked tirelessly to ban Puppy Mills in various cities throughout South Florida. Recently, Commissioner Lazarow worked with the City of Miami commission to approve a six-month moratorium while they study a permanent ban in the city. Other cities who have adopted a ban include: Dania Beach, Margate, Coconut Creek, Tamarac, Palmetto Bay, Surfside and Wilton Manors.

Thinking About Running? WorkshopOur second core program is a Thinking About Running? workshop for prospective candidates and those who are in the process of deciding if it’s the right move for them.  Sponsored by Bilzin Sumberg law firm, the all-day program focuses on leaving a legacy, testing the waters, examining the values of true public service and getting ready to launch.  Presenters include seasoned elected officials past and present, along with campaign professionals. In four years we have had 90 participants.

2012 Piloted our first Thinking About Running? workshop

2013 Implemented two additional workshops 2014 Hosted one TAR Workshops 2015 Hosted one TAR Workshops with plans to host

one more in Broward (October 2)

Community Conversations

As part of our third program area, GGI has hosted 21 Community Conversations in four years drawing more than 1,000 individuals in total. Influential leaders, experts, and members of the public gathered to discuss a range of issues that have significant impact on our quality of life in South Florida.

2015 Community Conversations (2)

Visit goodgov.net/events for more information about upcoming events

2014 Community Conversations (5)

• Marijuana Legalization: Reefer Madness or Good Public Policy?

• Tougher Choices: Shaping Florida's FutureIn partnership with Charlie Zwick, Retired Chairman, Southeast Bank and Chairman, Florida StateComprehensive Plan Committee

• Can the VA be Fixed? First Step: Let's talk about it! Hosted by the Beacon Council

• Changing the (Old) Guard in Miami: Meet Our Emerging Leaders

• Education Reform: Is Common Core Common Sense?

2013 Community Conversations (6) • Obamacare: What’s Next? Hosted by Florida Blue

• Guns, Politics and Public Health partially sponsored by Health Foundation of South Florida

• Can We Conquer Congestion? Mobility for the 21st Century Hosted by Northern Trust and partially sponsored by Health Foundation of South Florida

• Gaily Forward: The History and Future of LGBT Rights in South Florida partially sponsored by Health Foundation of South Florida

• Public Corruption – When Will it Stop? Hosted by Northern Trust

• Sea Level Rise – It’s a Community Thing! in partnership with the Miami Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the Schools of Architecture at the University of Miami and FIU

2012 Community Conversations (4)

• The Tension Over Pensions: Good Public Policy or Obsolete Extravagance?

• Lunch with David Samson at Marlins Park

• Is Miami the Next Atlantis?

• Community Partnering with the Military in Partnership with the Beacon Council

2011 Community Conversations (4)

• Civility in Government: Can it Happen in South Florida?

• Does Money in Politics Corrupt Absolutely?

• Lunch with Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez

• Unleashing the Entrepreneurial Spirit in Government

Specialized Workshops

International Visitor Leadership Program “Transparency in Government” presented to International

visitors from North Africa and the Middle East “Accountability and Transparency in Government” Workshop to

International visitors from Africa “Miami-Dade County Government and Transparency” to

International Visitors from Pakistan and Afghanistan

Mentoring/Coaching/Community speeches and presentations

Campaigns Done Right Next scheduled for June 13, 2015 at Holland and Knight 2014(pilot) in partnership with City of Miami Commissioner Francis

Suarez

Sea Level Rise Workshop for Elected Officials partnered with FAU, Union of Concerned Scientists and the CLEO Institute

Citizens Academy 2015 (Sold out in less than 48 hours) hosted by Vizcaya Museum and

Gardens and sponsored by Waste Management 2014 (Pilot) sponsored by the Rotary Club of Coral Gables and Waste

Management

Katy Sorenson, President and CEO 

Visit our Website at: www.goodgov.net

E-mail: info@goodgov.net

www.facebook.com/TheGoodGovernmentInitiative @GGovInitiative