Don't miss a great mixer for all LT Alumni. Held at the Lincoln Experience Center at Fashion Island, the mixer will feature delicious hors d'oeuvres and a not host bar. Our mixer in April featured almost 75 alumni, so make your reservations today to join us.
Each year nearly 30 orange county community leaders participate in the Leadership Tomorrow program. A non-profit organization founded in 1987, Leadership Tomorrow serves the communities of Costa Mesa, Irvine, Newport Beach and Tustin, and is supported by many community-minded organizations. It is no secret that business people are better prepared to lead and serve a community when they understand its inner workings, and Leadership Tomorrow provides a “backstage pass” so class members can see firsthand how things really get done in Orange County. (more…)
“Leadership and learning are indispensible to each other.” John F. Kennedy
Government Day informed, influenced, and inspired the Class of 2017 throughout a day at the Newport Beach Civic Center.
Ryan Painter, Community Services Supervisor, City of Irvine, Steve Knollmiller, Program Coordinator High School Youth Action Team, City of Irvine, and three Irvine area high school seniors, informed on the impact of City funded positions (including for high school students) managing student activities with a budget of $650,000 per year.
Maj. Gen. Andrew W. O'Donnell Jr. – US Marine Corp., Retired, inspired with his reflections on his long career both as a Marine One pilot, and as the Commanding Officer of Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1.)
Mary Locey, City of Newport Beach Public Information Specialist (Class of ’16,) hosted a tour of the Civic Center detailing its state of the art environment designed to maximize workplace efficiency, and Katie Eing, Newport Beach Emergency Services Coordinator, presented a sobering overview of emergency preparedness in the Newport Beach Civic Center Emergency Command Center – including discussion of earthquake and other disaster vulnerabilities and how the City strives to protect its citizenry.
Highlights of the day included candid panels with influential Mayors and City Managers moderated by Steven Rosansky, President and CEO of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce (Class of ’02,) including Costa Mesa Mayor Katrina Foley, Irvine Mayor Don Wagner, Newport Beach Mayor Kevin Muldoon, and Tustin Mayor Dr. Allan Bernstein and City Managers Tom Hatch, City of Costa Mesa, Sean Joyce, City of Irvine, Dave Kiff, City of Newport Beach, and Jeff Parker, City of Tustin.
Along the way the Class picked up lots Government Day “swag” including Police and Fire Department Challenge Coins and City of Tustin and City of Newport Beach totes of goodies.
“Leadership and learning are indispensible to each other.” John F. Kennedy
Government Day brings together a variety of experiences to inform, influence, and inspire the Class of 2017 with local government leadership principles. (more…)
The Leadership Tomorrow class met at the Melinda Hoag Smith Center for Healthy Living, where we listened to Dr. Ehab Mady speak about his preventative program on vascular disease.
The class then toured the mental health center, Center for Healthy Living, Costa Mesa Family Resources Center and SOS programs.
We then were honored to hear from 3 graduate students from the CSULB-CIRM Stem Cell Biotechnology Program and their search for human disease cures through their groundbreaking research. They did a phenomenal job is educating our class on this cutting edge research.
Board member, Tim Bauer from Olive Crest then presented on the state of children and family services in Orange County and how Olive Crest works in partnership with the county on foster care and adoption needs.
The class then traveled to CHOC, where we listened to Oliver Wyss, founder of Soccer for Hope tell his amazing story of personal loss and how it has inspired him and his foundation to raise money for cancer research. Immediately following Oliver’s talk, the class was able to take a behind the scenes tour of the Cord Blood Storage and Research Lab with Dr. Azita Nourani, Cord Blood Bank Supervisor, BMT Lab. There is groundbreaking work being done in this lab that is helping pave the way to future cures for childhood cancers.
Finally, the class was able to tour CHOC and visit the NICU, Oncology and learn about the Child Life programs with a private tour provided by Foundation Staff members.
The Leadership Tomorrow class will be meeting at the Melinda Hoag Smith Center for Healthy Living, where we will listen to Dr. Ehab Maddy speak about his preventative program on vascular disease.
We will then get to tour the mental health center, Center for Healthy Living, Costa Mesa Family Resources center and SOS programs.
The class then gets to hear from CSULB-CIRM Stem Cell Biotechnology Program and their search for human disease cures through their groundbreaking research.
Board member, Tim Bauer from Olive Crest will then present on the state of children and family services in Orange County and how Olive Crest works in partnership with the county on foster care and adoption needs.
The class then travels to CHOC, where we will hear Oliver Wyss, founder of Soccer for Hope tell his personal story of loss and how it has inspired him and his foundation to raise money for cancer research. Immediately following Oliver’s talk, the class will get a behind the scenes look of the STEM Cells Research Lab with Dr. Azita Nourani, Cord Blood Bank Supervisor, BMT Lab. There is groundbreaking work being done in this lab that is helping pave the way to future cures for childhood cancers.
Finally, the class will get to tour CHOC and visit the NICU, Oncology and Emergency Services with a private tour provided by Foundation Staff members.
The Leadership Tomorrow Justice Day class took place in downtown Santa Ana at the Public Defender’s office. Students’ perceptions of social affairs were challenged from the start as the day began with an eye-opening personal account of human sex trafficking. Miss Oree Freeman, now 21 years old, spoke about her life as a victim of human sex trafficking beginning at the age of 11. She was victimized here in Orange County for multiple years until her serendipitous meeting with Jim Carson from the Orangewood Foundation. Oree has since graduated from high school, enrolled in college and become a fierce advocate for victims of sex trafficking. She has met with police officers, district attorneys, judges, doctors, nurses, first responders and educators in high schools and colleges. She also works directly with children who have been and are being sex trafficked, and is a member of the California State Advisory Committee for Commercially Sexually Exploited Children.
The class then had the privilege of listening to Orange County District Attorney, Tony Rackauckas, and Public Defender, Sharon Petrosino. On a panel, they discussed current issues regarding our local and statewide justice systems. Exploring different perspectives in a diplomatic and constructive fashion was a unique and enlightening experience for our students as both professionals are passionate about their positions and the people they represent.
Following the speakers panel, our class participated in a “Q&A” session with four of the most influential members of public safety – Police Chief Jon Lewis (Newport Beach), Police Chief Robert Sharpnack (Costa Mesa), Police Chief Charles Celano (Tustin) and Deputy Chief of Police Julia Engen (Irvine). The panel was asked a set of questions ranging from current policing issues to recruitment. The Chiefs examined the realities of recruiting top-notch individuals to become sworn career police officers in today’s society. Propositions such as 47 and 57, along with AB 109, have made policing more and more dangerous and difficult. Additionally, social issues such as human sex trafficking and homelessness continue to provide challenges for officers. Each of the Chiefs spoke positively about their officers and communities expressing optimism for our collective future.
After a quick lunch in the Public Defenders library, the class walked to the Orange County Men’s Central Jail. All Leadership Tomorrow students were pre-screened with background checks and subject to the same search protocol of an inmate. Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies then gave a behind-the-scenes tour of the jail system from initial booking center to the various living quarters. Inmates are separated from each other based on several factors – level of crime committed, level of threat to oneself or others, physical disabilities, mental disabilities, race and even gang affiliation. The tour demonstrated some of the harsh realities of the criminal element that exists in our communities. Due in part to our strong police forces, legislation and engaged citizens, our overall crime rates remain low here in Orange County, however, issues remain in our communities and we all need to remain vigilant.
The day ended with a presentation from Nancy Clark. Ms. Clark is a criminal justice consultant who advocates alternate treatment programs for incarcerated people. She presented data about the prison population, and how the United States leads the world in the number of incarcerated citizens. She brought two guest speakers with her to share their stories. One was a 26-year-old man who found solace for his anger through drug abuse. His drug habit landed him in jail on multiple occasions. With Ms. Clark’s help, he was able to overcome his drug habit and now has assimilated back into society. The second speaker was convicted of murder in 1995 and grew up in the prison system habitually witnessing gang fights, stabbings and murders. Through Ms. Clark’s program, he left his criminal life behind and was able to move on. He ended his story with a particularly poignant anecdote, sharing that when he was released from prison, he stopped to hug and smell a tree, because there are no trees in prison and he never thought he would have the opportunity again to hug a tree.
Suffice to say, the day was filled with emotional and at times chilling stories about an element of our community that most of us do not want to think about. The class walked away from the day mindful that our public defenders are on the streets every day working to keep us safe.
The Leadership Tomorrow Justice Day workshop on March 16, 2017 will challenge students’ perceptions of social justice and current legal issues within our communities. The class of 2017 will begin with a continental breakfast in the Library of the Public Defender building in Santa Ana.
Our first speakers of the morning will address Human Trafficking. We are fortunate to have Oree Freeman and Jim Carson speak to the class. The Orange County Register listed 20-year-old Oree as one of the most influential people in OC in 2015. Oree was a victim of human trafficking when she was 11 years old. With the help of Jim Carson and the Orangewood Foundation, she was able to leave that life behind. Her story is sure to capture everyone’s attention.
Following Oree and Mr. Carson, we will have a rare opportunity to listen and speak with District Attorney Tony Rackaukus and Public Defender Sharon Petrosino. Both will engage in a speaker’s panel and will answer questions from Leadership Tomorrow students.
Our morning ends with another speaker’s panel with arguably four of the most influential public servants in our county. Police Chiefs Jon Lewis (Newport Beach), Robert Sharpnack (Costa Mesa), Charles Celano Jr. (Tustin) and Mike Hamel (Irvine) will discuss current policing and legal issues in our communities and state. They too will answer questions from Leadership Tomorrow students.
The class will walk off lunch from the Public Defender building over to the Men’s Central Jail in Santa Ana. Students will tour the facility and gain an insight to the issues and experiences inside one of our county jail facilities.
Our day will end with guest speaker Nancy Clark. Ms. Clark is a criminal justice consultant who advocates alternative treatment programs ranging from substance abuse to shoplifting.
Our class had a wonderful time exploring the Art’s in Orange County during Art’s Day. We started off the day touring Noguchi Gardens (after a quick morning snack). The gardens are one of those hidden gems in OC that we have all driven past although most of us have no idea they are there. The gardens are the work of Isamu Noguchi and it is just one of his many projects which are spread all over the world. Indeed we have a gem right in our backyard.
We next walked over to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. The concert hall is world-class venue that that day was hosting a concert by a whole bunch of 5th graders. Initially we were not sure we would be allowed into the hall, but alas we were and we also got to explore behind the scenes and some of the technology of why this is such a world class venue with the sound quality compared to the Disney concert hall among others. Segerstrom Center hosts touring companies from all over the world. Production companies move in with their shows and then move on to the next city. If you are looking for world-class entertainment without making the drive up to LA, then this is the place. This facility does not produce any of its own shows.
We next explored South Coast Repertory (SRC). SCR (unlike Segerstrom) does produce its own shows. They produce every aspect of their shows in-house. We toured the carpentry shop, costume, make-up and wig departments. We got to see where they make all the magic (or make believe happen). One of the most interesting parts of this class is that you get to explore areas that you would not otherwise be able to and that were definitely the case with these venues.
We next walked over to The Capital Grille for a wonderful lunch and roundtable discussion about Arts in and around OC and the impact our current political climate can have on the Arts. It was lively and engaging. Our panelists were Terry Dwyer, President - Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Dan Duling, Screenwriter - Pageant of the Masters, Paula Tomei, Managing Director - South Coast Repertory, Dawn Reese, Executive Director and Co-CEO, Wooden Floor.
Both Dan Duling and Dawn Reese represented completely different “business models” then the rest of our panelists. The Wooden Floor is a program that uses/teaches the art of dance to help their students who are from low-income and disadvantaged backgrounds to push beyond their own obstacles and emerge strong and confident leaders. The Pageant of the Masters is entering it’s 85th year and is dependent on a huge group of volunteers to help put on the show. Volunteers from as far away as San Diego come year after year to give of their time to the show. In many cases there are generations of families that are actively involved in volunteering for all aspects of the Pageant. The Pageant quite simply would not exist without the volunteers, which makes this an anomaly to be sure. Lastly we saw several Short Films brought to us by Dennis Baker, Director, Short Film Programming, Newport Beach Film Festival. There was a little something for everyone to be sure. Dennis shared some of the criteria that is used in choosing what films make it into the festival and got us all excited for the upcoming festival, which starts on April 20th.
Our last stop was to the Wyland Foundation Studio. This was the cherry on top of an amazing day. This was an opportunity that is very rare indeed. We got to tour Wyland’s personal gallery, where he keeps all of his original paintings both published and private. For those of you that have followed his work over the years it was indeed a treat. We also had the opportunity to see one of Wyland’s most prized possessions sent to him by FDNY. After 9/11 the first responders discovered one of his sculptures amongst the rubble and they sent it to him. Then we had the very unique opportunity to go into Wyland’s private studio and paint an Orca whale along with Wyland. He recorded a personal message to the class (as he was in Florida at the time) and then the painting started. The class is a pretty talented bunch. No one is quite ready to challenge Wyland in the art world however there were some very good pictures. For more information, please visit www.wyland.com.
A good time was surely had by all. The day ended with some delightful goodies and wonderful wine…
