Background & Overview: LORE is an 8-month executive certificate program for public sector leaders building the case and capacity for equity-driven systems change within their organizations. Two four-month sessions are offered: a fall session focused on communication and decision-making processes and a spring session focused on project implementation and process change.
A core component of the program is the development of a pilot project based on an existing challenge or opportunity within participating organizations. These projects are used to apply concepts from the curriculum and guide a structured process change analysis.
Eligibility: Participating organizations must send a minimum of two participants. One of these individuals should be an executive- or senior-level leader (e.g., City Manager, County Administrator, Assistant City Manager, Department Head, etc). Additional participants may be staff at any level who will be directly involved in pilot project implementation.
Application Timeline:
● Application Opens: May 15, 2026
● Scholarship Deadline: June 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM
● Informational Sessions: TBA – Please check our website and LinkedIn for updated information
● Application Deadline: July 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM
● Notification of Selection: Anticipated by August 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown: The base cost for participation is $840 per semester for the first two participants, and $720 for each additional participant. The cost covers 12 hours of in-person instruction per semester, access to an online learning platform for coursework, peer learning, and coaching between sessions, and a certificate upon completion of the program. Organizations receive a reduced rate of approximately 10% off if they pay in full by September 1.
Scholarships & Financial Aid: Members of affiliate organizations are eligible for partial scholarships to participate in LORE. A limited number of scholarships are available for the 2026-2027 program. If your organization would like to be considered for a scholarship, please indicate which affiliate organizations you are a member of in the contact information section of the application. A maximum of two scholarships per affiliate group will be offered. C3E additionally offers a sliding scale and payment plans for communities and/or individuals facing financial barriers to participating in the program. To explore options with our team, please contact Katie Friedman at
kfriedman@c3elocalgov.org.
Program Expectations & Commitment: Participants are expected to commit approximately 4-5 hours per month to LORE activities, including attending all in-person sessions (3 hours) at the NIU Naperville campus and completing 1-2 hours of interactive online course materials, readings, and homework connected to their pilot projects.
Workshop Dates & Times: All in-person sessions will take place from 9am - 12pm at the NIU Naperville Campus on the following dates:
● Fall Session 2026: 9/2, 10/7, 11/4, 12/2
● Spring Session 2027: 2/3, 3/3, 4/7, 5/5
