LEARNING HOW TO GIVE BACK LEADERSHIP CLASS HELPING CITIZENS HELP COMMUNITY.

Byline: Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writer

Leadership programs in Glendale and Burbank are gearing up efforts to turn today's local residents into tomorrow's local leaders.

Armed with insights into the inner workings of the cities and city leaders, participants in the programs have gone on to run everything from nonprofit organizations to city boards and committees.

``Ultimately, a major goal of the leadership program is to become a catalyst to all people who are interested in giving back to the community,'' said attorney Ernest Burger, chairman of Leadership Burbank.

The efforts come at a time when national officials say civic participation generally has waned.

Chris Hoene, research manager for the Washington, D.C.-based National League of Cities, said television and cynicism from the Watergate scandal have something to do with the trend that has been ongoing since the 1950s.

But local government is often where residents get plugged back into civic participation.

``The place they understand - in terms of the streets and the roads and the lights and the schools - is the local government, and that is the place that is easiest for them to participate,'' Hoene said.

The Glendale Chamber of Commerce is in the middle of an eight-month program. Next month, participants will learn about homelessness and social services.

Exact figures on how many Burbank and Glendale program graduates have gone on to civil roles are unavailable, because the programs don't specifically track progress. But Mayor Rafi Manoukian is one of the Glendale program's graduates, and others have served on city boards and committees.

``Many of these people do move on to serving on boards and really making a contribution to the city,'' said Judee Kendall, executive vice president of the Glendale Chamber of Commerce.

Last month, 24 participants graduated from Leadership Burbank, which had its first class in 1996. The program took a one-year break to restructure curriculum, restarting in 2002. Nearly 75 participants have graduated since then.

Some participants in the 10-month program go on to run for City Council, such as recent candidates Claudia Bonis and Vahe Hovanessian.

The Bob Hope Airport is a sponsor, while other supporters are from the private sector.

``We as a business owner operating a big piece of real estate, the mall in Burbank, feel that anything we can do to keep the positive leadership that this city has ... we want to continue that,'' said Jim O'Neil, executive vice president of Crown Realty & Development, which gave the program $2,500.

The leadership programs typically hold a daylong session once a month focusing on discussions on city economics, social justice, the environment or public safety. They also work on public-service projects and tuition that can cost about $1,000.

This year's Leadership Burbank participants formed two groups: One group organized a fundraiser that netted $15,000 for the Burbank Temporary Aid Center; the other raised money and planted a garden at Magnolia Park School, then gave the school $1,668 for the garden's upkeep.

The Glendale Chamber of Commerce program will graduate a class in November. Its graduating classes generally have 16 to 35 people.

``They basically learn how the city works and have an opportunity to be key decision-makers,'' Kendall said.

For Carolyn Lawrence of Burbank, being part of the Leadership Burbank program was an opportunity to get a broader perspective.

``My career can be very self-focused,'' said Lawrence - the voice of Sandy Cheeks on Nickelodeon's ``SpongeBob SquarePants'' cartoon. ``And I wanted to do something that took me outside of myself.''

Alex Dobuzinskis, [phone]

alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Rebecca Chamaa hugs fellow leadership award recipient Susie Becken during the 2005 graduation from the Leadership Burbank program. The ceremony was held in May at the Colony Theatre.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News