Local Elected Leaders Academy (LELA)
Local Elected Leaders Academy (LELA)
Welcome to LELA, a leadership development program for local elected officials across North Carolina. Built on the tenets of learning and practice, LELA comprises the following:
- Top-rated courses designed and taught by UNC faculty and practitioners.
- Service opportunities through statewide and nationwide partner organizations.
- Networking opportunities to connect with leaders across the state.
YOU DON’T GOVERN ALONE
Today’s local elected officials face many complex challenges, chief among them how best to lead and govern their communities. Most public issues are not confined to a single unit or level of government. Often, they cross geographic and political boundaries to affect others.
LELA is designed to help local elected officials (in counties and municipalities and on school boards and tribal councils) develop a mutual understanding of how governing at the local level affects residents and differing constituencies, regardless of where they live.
The program provides continuous pathways through education, service with statewide organizations, and recognition designed to suit the needs of local elected officials at any phase of their tenure in public office.
HOW LELA WORKS
Local elected officials become members of the Local Elected Leaders Academy upon completing Essentials of County/Municipal Government. Members work toward completing four recognition levels and receive a certificate of completion at each level.
Throughout the year, members engage with course content in various formats, including podcasts, virtual one-day courses, and multi-day residential leadership programs. Elected officials have the flexibility to tailor their learning experience to suit their individual needs.
Essentials of County/Municipal Government courses are offered following scheduled elections. Check the course calendar after an election for details.
Recognition Levels
Practitioner: Complete Essentials of Municipal/County Government + Earn 18 additional credits*
Master: Complete Practitioner requirements + Earn 18 additional credits*
Mentor: Complete Master requirements + Earn 18 additional credits*
Laureate: Complete Mentor requirements + Earn 18 additional credits*
* The 18 additional credits must include at least one full-day course and can include service credits.
How do I earn credits?
EDUCATION
Complete LELA courses, webinars, and online programs (the UNC School of Government and Western Carolina University offer courses in partnership).
- Courses: Multiple in-depth options
- Top 10 Primers: Free hour-long interactive webinars covering relevant and specific topics
- Independent Learning Recordings: Podcasts and on-demand courses
SERVICE
LELA members receive recognition for the applied practice of their leadership skills within their state and national local government organizations.
National League of Cities (NLC) | National Association of Counties (NACo)
- Attend national meetings, leadership programs, webinars, and online programs
NC League of Municipalities (NCLM) | NC Association of County Commissioners (NCACC)
- Attend state meetings, district meetings, workshops, and legislative updates
- Serve on steering and/or advisory committees
- Serve as a board member or officer
EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
The duration of a course determines the number of credits a participant earns. Find credit information on course registration pages.
| Duration | Credits |
|---|---|
| Multi-day | 12 |
| Full day (4 to 6 hours) | 6 |
| Half day (2 to 3 hours) | 3 |
| Less than 2 hours | 2 |
| On demand | 1 |
As described above, local elected officials become members of LELA after completing Essentials of County/Municipal Government, a multi-day course worth 12 credits. Dates and locations for these courses follow the November 2026 election cycle.
Top 10 Primers
2 credits each
Free, interactive webinars that explore the top ten things elected leaders need to know about particular topics. Each webinar is a live class recorded and uploaded as an on-demand offering.
| Title | Date |
|---|---|
| Engaging the Community in Public Issues | July 22, 2026 |
| Council-Manager Roles and Responsibilities in Local Government | September 2, 2026 |
| Local Government Liability | October 14, 2026 |
| Gifts and Favors and Conflicts of Interest | November 10, 2026 |
| The Difference Between Ethical and Legal | December 9, 2026 |
| Managing Conflict: Tips and Tools Roundtable | February 5, 2027 |
| Use of Social Media for Local Elected Officials | May 5, 2027 |
Full-Day Courses
4 to 6 hours | 6 credits each
| Course | Date | Locate |
|---|---|---|
| Emotional Intelligence: Leadership’s Super Power | September 11, 2026 | Chapel Hill |
| Effective Community Engagement: A Toolbox for Elected Officials | September 17, 2026 | Chapel Hill |
| Affordable Housing Seminar: Tools Strategies and Case Studies for Local Government Leadership | October 9, 2026 | Chapel Hill |
| Elevate Organizational Performance | November 13, 2026 | Chapel Hill |
| Emotional Intelligence: Leadership’s Super Power | January 29, 2027 | Online |
| Navigating Challenging Issues Through Community Engagement | February 11, 2027 | Chapel Hill |
| Working with Advisory Boards and Committees | March 25, 2027 | Kernersville |
| Leading with Respect for Local Elected Officials | April 8, 2027 | Chapel Hill |
| Evaluating Manager and Board Performance | April 12, 2027 | Chapel Hill |
| Council-Manager: Roles and Relationships in Local Government | April 16, 2027 | Chapel Hill |
| Essentials of Economic Development | June 1, 2027 | Location TBD |
| Lead Across Boundaries | June 25, 2027 | Chapel Hill |
Half-Day Courses
2 to 3 hours | 3 credits each
| Course | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Strategic Planning for Local Elected Officials | February 18, 2027 | Online |
Less than Two-Hour Courses
2 credits each
| Course | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Ethics for Local Elected Officials | May 20, 2027 | Online |
Multi-Day Courses
12 credits each
| Course | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Development Finance Toolbox | December 8-10, 2026 | Online |
| Advanced Leadership Corps | March 7-12, 2027 | Chapel Hill |
SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Engage with State or National Local Government Organizations
LELA participants earn recognition through the applied practice of their leadership skills within their state and national local government organizations. Strengthening the leadership of these organizations also strengthens local government. Active participation often sparks an interest in candidacy for higher office, which ultimately helps build a stronger North Carolina.
CREDITS PER SERVICE OPPORTUNITY FROM NLC, NACO, NCLM, AND NCACC
| 2 credits | Attend a state legislative day event. Attend a district meeting. Serve on a policy or select committee. Serve on a national committee. |
| 3 credits | Take a half-day course from NCACC or NCLM. |
| 4 credits | Attend a state or national legislative conference. Attend a state or national annual conference. Serve as a workshop leader, presenter, or panelist at a state or national conference. Serve as chair of a policy, select, or standing committee (applied at the end of the term). |
| 6 credits | Attend a state or national legislative annual conference and participate on a panel or session. Attend a state or national legislative conference and serve as a voting delegate. Serve on the board of directors. Serve as a voting delegate at a conference. Take a full-day course from NCACC or NCLM. |
| 8 credits | Serve as an organization’s presidential chair. |
MANAGING YOUR RESULTS
Certificates and badges are awarded as you progress and complete the recognition levels in your leadership development pathway. It will be important for you to manage your results to earn credit and share your accomplishments with others.
Badges
Completing Essentials of County/Municipal Government prompts the creation of your Badgr account. You will receive email instructions on setting up your profile. Your profile is where you can claim badges, view your progress, share and print awards, and more.
Return to your profile anytime at sogunc.badgr.com/my-badges.
View the informational video at go.unc.edu/LELAbadges.
SHARE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Under the “Badge” tab on your profile, click the badge name to see details such as earning requirements, credits, and activity type. By clicking on the three dots in the upper right corner, you’ll find the following printing and sharing options:
- Print a certificate. Download and print your badges and awards as certificates.
- Share your badges. Copy a link or embed code to share your badges on social media and websites.
- Add your badges to your email signature.
CREDENTIAL REQUEST
All prior credentials are available in the LELA tracking system.
If you believe you have not received proper credit for a course or activity, visit go.unc.edu/LELACredentials and fill out the form to indicate the course or activity you’ve completed. You will then receive a code to claim it on your profile.