A new program sponsored by the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce and staffed by NIU faculty will train community members in the art of leadership beginning in September.

The program is a division of the chamber and its main mission is to develop and cultivate leadership skills in participants with a passion to serve the DeKalb community.

The chamber is responding to a need that addresses future leaders of the community, said Kim Kubiak, executive director of the organization.

The nine-month seminar is designed to foster and promote volunteer leadership resources within the DeKalb community, she said.

“We want individuals to develop leadership skills that will allow them to be the best leaders in their organizations or places of work,” Kubiak said.

This type of program never has been provided locally, she said. Other communities across the country have embraced it and helped develop future leadership in their communities, she said.

NIU professors and experts in the different topics will teach the courses in different locations. The chamber has not yet decided who those experts will be, Kubiak said.

NIU plays an integral role in community leadership in DeKalb, said Rena Cotsones, NIU executive director of community relations.

“We are delighted to see the chamber step into the role of developing community leadership, and it’s a natural for NIU to be involved,” Cotsones said.

Course subjects will include conflict management and negotiating skills, personal leadership styles, public speaking, leveraging technology in business, how area educational agencies work, how area healthcare organizations function, local employment and hiring practices, how local governing agencies work and how local non-profit organizations work.

The location of the courses will vary depending on the topic, Kubiak said. She said the locations will relate to the topics, with at least one at the DeKalb Municipal Building and one at a bank.

Courses will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the second Wednesday of every month beginning in September. Participants will take part in a graduation ceremony upon completion of the program in May.

The program cost is $750 for chamber of commerce members and $1,000 for non-members. Applicants must fill out an application, provide letters of reference and complete a participation agreement by Aug. 6.

For more information or an application visit www.dekalb.org.