What is southern Arizona's most pressing problem?

Prison growth? Slow economic development? Droves of uninsured children? The need for alternative energy sources?

All of these and more?

Tucson could become one of the most attractive, livable and innovative U.S. cities, but the challenges are overwhelming.

In the Greater Tucson Leadership spring 2007 class, 33 of us learned what changes the region is experiencing and what its future may hold.

What will it take to improve our education and transportation systems while strengthening industry, government and many other areas?

Leaders, I'm told.

But who are they?

Wealthy men dressed in sharp business suits with swanky ties and leather shoes? Presidents, CEOs, executives, club members and those with impressive academic titles?

Not necessarily.

Those things don't always denote leadership qualities or care for the community.

"We've gotten away from the other question, 'Who are the 10 most influential people?' There is no such thing," said Tom Volgy, a University of Arizona political science professor and former Tucson mayor.

"They existed in the 1950s, if they existed, and people have been looking for them since," Volgy said.

"What we've ended up with, for good or bad - I think it's for the good - is a revolving leadership that varies a lot with the nature of the problem."

I side with Volgy.

Leadership is not a matter of membership or the power of one, and it requires strides toward improving the human condition.

Sounds a lot like Greater Tucson Leadership (GTL) values.

It also sounds somewhat counter to our national value of self-determinism - one I believe can diminish a person's ability to be an effective leader.

"There is an emerging sense that leadership should be broader," said Michael McDonald, executive director of Habitat for Humanity in Tucson. "It calls to the deepest part of us all to do things that are countercultural and counterintuitive."

What would happen otherwise? We've heard the stories:

"So-and-so said she's volunteering this weekend so she can put it on her résumé."

Or, "Mr. Whoever has donated a couple thousand dollars again. He said his name had better be in bold print on the donors list this year. And he's hoping for that huge tax break.

"Self-determination, eh?

What happened to impassioned work toward justice and equality for all?

"Good leaders really understand that it is about making the quality of life better for others - before themselves," said Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup.

Granted, good work happens when one person can rally others around a cause. And many organizations are in desperate need of donor dollars.

But it's not enough to hand over a check or sit silently on a board.

GTL teaches that leaders must be more involved and engaged. Face-time, open ears, passion and the ability to build coalitions are critical.

So are strides toward improving the human condition - and that goes for the public and private sectors.

The hard part will be to convince the old school, because humanitarian efforts can be difficult to quantify, especially from a capitalist view.

Try putting into real numbers the value of the person who stands up against outmoded legislation or who lobbies his employer to provide men with maternity leave.

What about the couple who adopt abused children or mentors who show wayward teens they're worth more than being drug addicts or youths affiliated with gangs?

"It's about doing the right thing when nobody else is watching and practicing principles and leadership and demonstrating integrity," said former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona.

Still not motivated? Consider our children and youth. It is not fair to rob them of health, happiness or a future.

And stop celebrating people who lead without purpose. Recognize creative, innovative thinkers who are fixing problems and breaking down disparities.

But remember: No person has all the ideas or even the ability to solve what are often complex and deeply rooted problems.

Didn't we learn all of this in kindergarten? What happened as we grew up? We began to lose our humanity.

Why else would we have so many problems?

GTL is about restoring the human spirit around community and action.

My class shadowed teachers, visited the Legislature and learned about the emergence of telemedicine in rural areas, the origins of mariachi music and solar energy use downtown.

We also peeked into small living spaces and walked in the social quarters of criminals at the state prison complex.

Some days, we had tremendous fun. Others were the serious sort that provided a sense of urgency about issues affecting Tucson and southern Arizona.

It was the most comprehensive education many of us had ever received.

The spring 2007 class graduated May 30 and was left with the charge to do something.

I ask, what will you do?

Defining a leader

"Leadership is finding out what is now or will be missing, assessing how much could be done to improve it and how, persuading enough people to act on it, relentlessly evaluating whether the solution is getting the job done and continually trying to position yourself, your group (or) your institution to ensure that those gaps are filled, even if by someone else." - Scott Stewart, Pima Community College Board of Governors member

"The person who intentionally creates and sustains an interpersonal environment where everyone feels safe, trusted, esteemed and unconditionally loved and respected is a leader." - Stephanie Parker, Aurora Foundation president and founder

"When you start making decisions that are self-serving, then you're a bad leader. We have a lot of those people who get thrust into positions of leadership and the ego gets involved." - Pima County Sheriff Clarence W. Dupnik

"In the political arena, I find very few people really standing out as leaders. You think of the leadership during the time of the (U.S.) Constitution, the Civil War, the Cold War and World War II - where are those leaders today? Part of it is that people tend to think of political office as trying to get themselves re-elected rather than trying to do something good." - Former U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe "

A leader is constantly coaching employees to excel and further their potential, which oftentimes extends beyond the potential of the leader. If I hired my staff to my ability or less, there wouldn't be that multiplier effect where one plus one equals four.

"You always try to find people who have talents beyond yours. That's sometimes a hard thing to do because ego sometimes gets in the way." - Tomás León, president and CEO of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

EDITORIAL: You – yes, you – need to be a leader

WHAT'S NEEDED: All it takes is an hour a month