County youth leadership program wins start-up grant
By Arthur McLean Editor

Leadership Clarke County announced this week that it has received a grant from the Rural Alabama Initiative program in the amount of $11,750 to launch a youth leadership program.

"We're very pleased that Leadership Clarke County was chosen among a significant number of grant applicants for this award," said Bridgett Shewmake, board member of Leadership Clarke County and chairperson for the current youth portion of Leadership Clarke County.

The Clarke County application was one of 35 projects approved for some level of grant funding out of 120 that applied statewide. More than $2.2 million in grant requests were made of the initiative, but only $500,000 in requests could be funded this year.

For the past three years, the adult leadership classes have included one high school junior from each of the county's high schools to participate. The grant will enable Leadership Clarke County to expand the number of high school students who can participate in their own program. "We've been wanting to expand the youth leadership portion of the program for some time," Shewmake said.

The group is planning a youth leadership kick-off event to take place in the spring of 2008. The first class is expected to include 25 students from Clarke County high schools to be chosen based on applications and interviews.

Lashaunda Holly, also a board member of LCC and director of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, agreed that the grant gives the new program momentum to start. The Jackson chamber has had its own youth leadership component called the Pine City Ambassadors, for several years.

"I think with everything going on in our region, it's crucial to train these youth and help them understand what this county has to offer," she said. "And once they know, they don't have to leave."

After the kick-off, it is planned for the students to attend a series of classes that will be located around Clarke County to give the participants a greater knowledge of the county and their own communities.

"The objective of the program is to equip our youth with the tools to become effective leaders in their communities and to show them the opportunities available to them right here in Clarke County," Shewmake said.

Class sessions will cover topics such as economic and community development, education, health and human services, diversity, law enforcement, arts and culture and history.

"Hopefully this program will enlighten them," Holly said. "The more we can do that, I think it will benefit this region."

The youth leadership program will wrap up with the graduating class performing a community-oriented project that the students will help determine.

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