LANSING — State Representative Leslie Love (D-Detroit) was among 33 select lawmakers chosen to participate in a training program that annually identifies and assists promising state leaders in the Midwest.
Representative Love, the only Michigan Democrat to be selected, was one of three Michigan representatives chosen to meet with fellow lawmakers from Michigan and 10 other Midwestern states and four Canadian provinces on August 12-16 in Madison, Wis., for The Council of State Governments’ 22nd annual Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development (BILLD).
“The Bowhay Institute is one of the premier leadership training programs in the nation,” says Indiana Rep. Ed Clere, who serves as co-chair of the institute’s steering committee. “The legislatures in the region have benefited greatly from the skills their members have gained through this unique educational experience. Many of the graduates now hold leadership positions in their state.”
BILLD was founded in 1995 to help new legislators meet the demands of increased policy responsibility being shifted to the states and, in many states, term limits. These two emerging forces highlight the shortage of training available for legislators — a void that BILLD aims to fill.
“I’m honored to be selected to participate in such a prestigious fellowship,” said Love. “This is a great opportunity for me to build upon my accomplishments of this term so that I can be an even more effective leader in my community and my caucus.”
A program of The Council of State Governments’ Midwestern Office, BILLD is held in partnership with the University of Wisconsin’s Robert M. La Follette School of Public Affairs. Courses are designed to develop leadership skills, the program analyzes a variety of public policy issues, including the economy, education and corrections policy.
Founded in 1933, The Council of State Governments has national headquarters in Lexington, Ky., and regional offices in Atlanta, Chicago (Lombard, Ill.), New York City and Sacramento. The goal of the national, nonpartisan organization is to assist and advance state government by providing research assistance, professional development opportunities, interstate consulting services and suggested state legislation.