In the last five years over 150 people from the North Bay region have completed a leadership training course sponsored by the Leadership Institute for Ecology and the Economy.

The course, titled Leadership Training for a Sustainable Future, is designed to help people learn how to effectively create public policy that springs from a set of principles -- principles that incorporate environmental protection, social equity, economics and sustainability.

Topics covered during the class include: Principles of Sustainability, Understanding the Local Watershed, Water Policy, How Government Works, Planning, Land Use and Transportation, Sustainable Agriculture, Social Equity, and Leadership and Activism.

The cost for taking the training is $500 to $1000 (sliding scale); however reduced fees are available based on income or other circumstances.

College credit for both graduate and undergraduate level students is available from Sonoma State University for an additional charge.

The application form and more information about the course are available on the web at www.ecoleader.org.

Inquiries can be sent to: Leadership Institute for Ecology and the Economy, 50 Santa Rosa Avenue, Suite 308, Santa Rosa, CA 95404.