Learning to Operationalize and Realize Equity (LORE)

LORE is an 8-month practitioner-centered learning academy that equips public sector leaders with the skills and peer support to drive organizational and process change through the transformation of internal operational practices which inhibit an organization’s ability to function equitably, effectively, and efficiently.

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The program emphasizes equity not as a parallel priority, but as a core element of operational excellence and organizational effectiveness. Since its inception, LORE has supported more than 20 communities across Illinois and continues to serve as a resource for cities and counties striving to build more just and resilient institutions.

What to Expect

• Two Session, Tailored Learning: The program is split into a fall session focused on communication and decision-making and a spring session focused on project implementation and process change. 
• Applied Learning and Pilot Projects:  Apply course concepts to real-world challenges within your organization through a core pilot project, providing hands-on experience in process change analysis. 
• Comprehensive Curriculum: Learn how equity, effectiveness, and efficiency intersect in your organization, integrate equity principles into performance management, foster internal communities of practice, and use process mapping to identify opportunities for more equitable operations. 
• Cohort-Based Community: Join a supportive peer network through monthly in-person workshops at the NIU Naperville campus and online interactive materials.

Learning Objectives

• Understand how equity, effectiveness, and efficiency intersect within large public sector organizations
• Integrate equity principles into core practices of performance management and organizational change
• Foster internal communities of practice to collectively advance equity goals
• Use process mapping to identify opportunities for more equitable, effective, and efficient operations
• Cultivate a resilient, research-informed learning culture that supports continuous equity-driven improvement
• Strengthen team-based strategies for advancing equity through collaborative and inclusive leadership

Who Should Apply?

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). One or two additional staff members of any level who will be directly involved in pilot project implementation may join.

Cost & Commitment: The cost for participation is $3,500 for the first two participants and $1,500 for each additional participant. Participants are expected to commit approximately 6 hours per month to LORE activities, including attending all in-person sessions (3 hours) at the NIU Naperville campus and completing 2-3 hours of interactive online course materials, readings, and homework connected to their pilot projects.

C3E is committed to making this training accessible to professionals across organizations of all sizes. A limited number of scholarships and reduced rates are available for individuals or organizations where cost may be a barrier to participation. If you would like to request a scholarship or discuss alternative arrangements, please contact Katie Friedman at kfriedman@c3elocalgov.org.

The application for the 2025-2026 cohort is now closed.

Interested in Learning More?

Check out our Informational Session Slides Below!

Frequently Asked Questions

Click on a question below to view the response.

Who should apply?

LORE is for municipal leaders, department heads, HR managers, and operational staff across local governments who are committed to building internal capacity for equity. Teams are often cross-functional, and the program is ideal for agencies looking to advance or align their equity strategies with measurable operational goals.

Does my organization have to come into the program with a fully formed pilot project proposal?

No. Organizations do not need to have a complete pilot project planned in advance. LORE guides teams through structured inquiry and planning processes to design meaningful and scalable pilot initiatives during the program. That said, organizations are encouraged to come into LORE with a specific organizational challenge in mind that they would like help addressing through the creation of a pilot project.

How is LORE structured?

LORE is an 8-month, cohort-based program that combines leadership development, peer learning, and hands-on project work. It is delivered in two 4-month sessions:

• Fall Session (September – December): Foundations and Exploration
  • Participants learn the principles of equity-driven organizational change using the REDI model. The focus is on applying iterative learning to leadership and management, building peer networks, and exploring how mission-oriented teams navigate complex challenges.
• Spring Session (February – May): Application and Implementation
  • Teams apply process change models to their pilot projects, evaluate data, and develop clear implementation proposals. Coaching and peer support continue to strengthen resiliency and ensure the project aligns with organizational equity goals.

What is the time commitment required for this program?

Participants are expected to commit 4-5 hours per month to the program. This includes:

• Attendance at monthly in-person sessions are held at the NIU Naperville Campus on the second Wednesday of every month (approximately 3 hours) and
• Independent work on readings, assignments, and pilot projects and engagement with cohort peers via an online learning platform (approximately 1-2 hours)

What is the length of the program?

LORE runs approximately 8 months, from September through May

Are there any costs associated with the program?

Yes, there is a program participation fee, which supports materials, facilitation, and coaching costs. The fee for two participants is $3,500. We ask for $1,500 for each additional participant from your organization. An organization must send a minimum of two participants and may send up to a maximum of four participants.

Do you offer scholarships or reduced rates for organizations that cannot afford the program fee?

C3E offers limited financial support or sliding scale options for agencies with demonstrated need. We encourage interested applicants to contact us to discuss flexibility or partnership-based sponsorship.

Am I allowed to attend the course virtually?

At this time, we are unfortunately unable to offer LORE in a virtual format. Attendance at the in-person sessions is critical for the applied learning and aspect of the curriculum.

How do I apply for the program?

Applicants interested in the 2025-2026 cohort should submit their virtual application form by Friday, August 15th, 2025 at 11:59pm CDT. The application form can be accessed via this link: https://tinyurl.com/lore2025-2026

When can applicants expect to be notified?

We anticipate notifying applicants of their selection by August 25th, 2025.

For more information, please contact Katie Friedman at kfriedman@c3elocalgov.org