Chamber recruits new youth leaders

CLEVELAND, Tenn. (Jan. 30, 2008)—The Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce is currently recruiting members for the seventh Youth Leadership class.

The Youth Leadership program helps to build Cleveland/Bradley County leaders of the future by focusing on leadership skills, teamwork and knowledge of the community today. Topics throughout the nine-month program include Local Economy, Health and Human Services, Local Heritage and Tourism, State Government, City Services and County Services presented through discussions, tours, onsite visitations, and informal question-and-answer sessions. Students also participate in a two-day retreat to build relationships and leadership skills.

“We thoroughly enjoy working with the young adults in this program each year,” Bernadette Douglas, the Chamber’s senior vice president, said. “Since the program’s inception, we have received numerous comments from community leaders and volunteers about the maturity, abilities and personality of each group of students. We look forward to meeting and working with the next class.”

            According to Douglas, the guidance departments of Cleveland High, Walker Valley and Bradley Central High Schools received applications this week and will begin distribution immediately to interested students. Any student who will be a junior or senior during the 2008-09 school year is eligible to apply for the program. Interested students can also access the application on the Chamber’s website, www.clevelandchamber.com, in the Economic Development section under Workforce Development /Education Programs.

“Students must submit completed applications to their respective school guidance counselors no later than February 22 to be considered for the leadership class,” Douglas stressed.

A selection committee comprised of Leadership Cleveland alumni, the adult counterpart of the youth program, will review applications and select a combination of eight rising juniors and seniors from each high school, making a total of 24 students in the program.

“The goal of the nine-month program is to acquaint students with these aspects of the community and to increase their awareness of leadership roles that are available to students now and in the future,” Douglas, coordinator of the Chamber’s adult leadership program, explained.

She added, “The better we educate our students about the facets of life that make Cleveland and Bradley County strong, the better they will be prepared to become our future community leaders. Part of that leadership preparation comes from developing relationships with others, which is also a focal point of the retreat and the sessions that follow.”

            The 2008-09 Youth Leadership class will run from August 2008 through April 2009.

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