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Program Description

The Land Use Leadership Alliance Training Program (LULA) was created in 1995 to build capacity for change among land use leaders at the local level of government.

While the LULA initially addressed general land use matters in sub-urban and rural communities of New York State, it has been tailored to train housing advocates from urban centers, environmental advocates from watershed communities, and leaders in Connecticut and New Jersey.

This substantive and geographic flexibility is a product of the program’s ability to adjust to and learn from the issues and needs of the participants.  This training format arms graduates with more than just relevant knowledge; most leave with a renewed sense of hope in their communities’ ability to deal with change.

Creating Communities, One Conversation at a Time

As evidence of this, the motto of the LULA – creating communities, one conversation at a time – comes from a graduating mayor who was describing what he learned from the program about his role as a local official.

Next: Theory & Practice

The primary purpose of the program is to use law and negotiation theory to help local leaders understand that solutions to complex and persistent problems are more likely to be reached through authentic collaborative initiatives than the typical... Read more

The LULA is for all those who care about their community. It takes very busy local leaders, deals with the challenges they are facing, and helps them to be more effective leaders when confronting issues related to growth.

Carol Ash Palisades Interstate Park Commission

Measures of Success

  • 73% of survey graduates said they used the skills learned in the program to adopt land use innovations.

  • One hundred municipalities, agencies and associations have passed official resolutions cosponsoring the program.

  • More successes

LULA Connecticut

For more information on LULA in Connecticut, visit the sister site.

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