Developing leaders

 

guest commentary by Barbara Harvel, executive director, Leadership Fort Smith
[email protected]

Inscribed on the plaque that every Leadership Fort Smith graduate receives is, “The quality of its leadership will determine the future of the Fort Smith area.”

Our community believes this. You can see the accomplishments achieved by individuals from each class since 1987 throughout our community, region and state.

The purpose of Leadership Fort Smith is to bring together, in a working relationship, the varied leadership elements in the community – the elected and appointed political leadership, business leaders, educators, ministers, minority group leaders, leaders from the nonprofit sector, and the media. It provides an opportunity for people from various segments in our community to look beneath the surface in critical areas, learn firsthand what the problems, opportunities, and challenges are, and perhaps most important of all, come to know and understand one another.

Each class of Leadership Fort Smith is a group of community-minded individuals of all ages, from all walks of life; some are current leaders; some have been leaders in the community for a long time and some are up-and-coming or even future leaders. What they all have in common is that they are people who are interested in serving our community and making it a better place.

From the very first year, Leadership Fort Smith took a “regional approach” to making our community better by allowing participants in the program from around our region. It is all about learning, connecting, and leading.

This annual 10-month program consists of an orientation session, 10 full-day sessions, two-day opening retreat, and a final retreat, and it culminates with a commencement banquet. Topics of the 10 sessions are: History, K-12 Education, Economic Development, Local Government, Multiculturalism, State Government, Higher Education, Law Enforcement and the Judicial System, and Health and Human Services.

These sessions do not take place in an ordinary classroom atmosphere. There are tours, mock city board meetings, and a trip to Little Rock to see how our state legislators really work. You get to spend some time inside a jail, talk one-on-one with city department leaders, interact with individuals from other cultures, and much more. Each class consists of 25 citizens who represent various professions, organizations, businesses, governmental and educational entities, and geographic areas throughout our region.

If you think you know all about Fort Smith, think again. Here’s a quote from Pat Nolte, Class of 2008: “It is a great program that is incredibly informative. I have lived in Fort Smith for most of my life and was unaware of many of the things LFS exposed me to.”

It’s an experience unlike any other. During your “year,” you will find new interest in your community, new friends, and a new passion to make your community better.

If you want to become a part of this amazing community learning experience, or if you know someone who you would like to nominate for Leadership Fort Smith, it’s easy to do. Nominations of individuals, or self-nomination, can be made by any person living or working in the Greater Fort Smith region. The nomination form can be found here at the Leadership Fort Smith website, along with the complete application and schedule for the next class of Leadership Fort Smith.

All completed applications must be postmarked no later than May 16, 2011. For more information, please call (479) 788-7810.