Leadership Redondo History

Leadership Redondo has been an active program of the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce since the year 2000. It was initiated by Marna Smeltzer, John Parsons and Dawn Wendl, based on other programs in the United States designed to develop knowledgeable community leaders.

The mission of Leadership Redondo is to develop effective community leaders who will strengthen and transform our community. The goals are:

Create an environment in which participants develop a sense of community stewardship and are encouraged to assume leadership roles in community affairs.

Develop awareness of the Redondo Beach community and its problems, challenges and opportunities by examining factors that affect life in the city.

Examine principles and practices of leadership and help participants identify and enhance their own leadership styles with an emphasis on a community perspective.

A steering committee of past participants serves as an advisory group. Classes meet from January through November at various sites in the community, for one full day each month. In the year following the class sessions, the group continues to meet on its own to develop and implement a project of its choice. Projects undertaken in the past include the following: 2000 – an educational program relating to Heart of the City; 2001 – Character Counts program for the business community; 2002 – Path of History; 2003 - Business Recycling program; and 2004 – Speaking of Redondo..., documentation of oral histories of long-term Redondo Beach residents. The 2005 project is Art Benches; the creation of artistically appealing benches in Riviera Village. The class of 2006 project was Picturedondo.org; the class of 2007 project was a 9/11 Memorial. The class of 2008 is working on a water conservation project.

A new class will start in January 2009, meeting for a full day on the second Friday of each month. Tuition is $675 per person. Recruitment for the 2009 class is underway, and applications are available here or by calling the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau at (310) 376-6911, extension 21.