Two of Carmel's top emergency services leaders, Police Department Chief Drake Sterling and Fire Department Chief Joel Thacker, have just been picked to be part of the exclusive Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative. According to the City of Carmel's recent announcement, they'll be joining the program's ninth class, which already includes Mayor Sue Finkam, the sole representative from Indiana among 47 mayors participating worldwide.
This initiative, which is a collaborative venture between Bloomberg Philanthropies, Harvard Kennedy School, and Harvard Business School, aims to fill the training gap for public sector leaders. It provides these key city figures with much-needed capabilities to overcome local problems, bolster city halls, and enhance the lives of those they serve. All participant costs are covered by Bloomberg Philanthropies, a notable point of support for these civic leaders.
Since its 2017 inception, the program has honed the skills of 359 mayors and more than 635 senior municipal officials spanning 41 countries. "It's an honor to represent the Carmel Police Department and the City of Carmel in this prestigious program," Chief Sterling told the City of Carmel. He went on to explain his eagerness to gather insights from global counterparts to improve services back home.
The initiative operates out of the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, where engaged Harvard academics collaborate with Bloomberg's experts, over nine months. This interaction promises an enriching exchange of strategies and practices. Echoing this sentiment, Chief Thacker expressed gratitude for the program, "I'm grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Bloomberg Harvard program," he said, emphasizing the importance of novel strategies to advance the Carmel Fire Department’s engagement with the local community, as detailed by the City of Carmel's release.
The initiative brings practical benefits to Carmel. Both Sterling and Thacker recently joined 90 other local leaders in a New York session. "Chiefs Sterling and Thacker’s participation in the program will ensure that we continue to improve the way we serve our incredible community," Mayor Finkam said, highlighting the expected positive impact of their engagement with the Bloomberg Harvard initiative.
