MSB Superintendent and
Student join Leadership Programs
Dr.
Rosie Pridgen, Superintendent of the Mississippi School
for the Blind (MSB), wanted to be involved with
Leadership Greater Jackson (LGJ) for many years, but it
wasn’t until this past fall that her time allowed her to
do so.
Leadership Greater Jackson, which is a program of the
Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership (GJCP), is a
community-wide leadership program that develops existing
and emerging leaders in the metro area and is designed
to educate participants about major community issues and
alternate approaches to solutions to community problems.
After she was accepted to LGJ, and attended the first
orientation meeting, she learned data had been sent to
MSB about Youth Leadership Jackson which is patterned
after LGJ, but specifically for high school sophomores
and juniors. Also a program of the GJPC, YLJ is designed
to expose young leaders to the various elements that
combine to form a strong and dynamic metropolitan area.
“One of my goals as superintendent is to encourage our
students to be as involved in the community as
possible,” she said. “Sometimes this is a little
challenging, because many of our students reside outside
of the tri-county area.
“After learning that MSB had not responded to the
application process, I inquired of our staff to identify
who had the data, since I had not received it,” she
said. “Once the information about Youth Leadership
Jackson was located, I had the principal and the
counselor to review the criteria and initiate
conversations with eligible students.”
While some of the eligible students were interested,
tenth grader Andrea Lloyd really stepped up to the
plate, according to Pridgen.
“We continued the conversation about the commitment and
involved her parents, too,” Pridgen said. “Her parents
were supportive and granted permission for her
participation.”
This is pretty rare to have this type of participation
in both programs, according to Shirley Tucker, LGJ
Executive Director.
"It is not often that we have the school principal or
headmaster and a student from the same school to go
through our leadership programs simultaneously,” she
said. “Typically, our office has to inform each school
official on their student's progress during each
session, but having Dr. Pridgen & Andrea during the same
time really helps us relate our message more
efficiently. Dr. Pridgen and Andrea are both a real joy
to work with."
When Dr. Pridgen found out they would both be involved
in the Leadership programs simultaneously, she was
thrilled.
“I was excited about what I saw as a great learning
opportunity for me and was excited that one of our
students would be afforded the same opportunity,” she
said. “Therefore, I made the commitment to do whatever
we need in support of the selected participant.
Lloyd has found YLJ to be a wonderful program that has
provided her a chance to meet and get to know other
people, including students from other schools.
“It is also a chance to learn how to get along with
other people better,” she said. “And it gives you a
chance to think, speak, and interact about various
topics.”
Pridgen echoes Lloyd’s views about Leadership Greater
Jackson, and adds that LGJ has provided excellent
professional development opportunities.
“I have learned so much in the sessions that we have
completed,” she said. “I look forward to learning more,
and more importantly, identifying ways that I can use
what I am learning to be a more effective, community
servant.”
When asked what they could do together to be leaders in
the Greater Jackson area once graduating from the
programs, Lloyd said she is already talking about how
she will use some of the information she is learning to
be a resource for the etiquette and manners program that
MSB sponsors annually.
“The director of our residential department has been in
conversation with Andrea and she is excited about
serving,” Pridgen said. “I also believe that we can use
the information we glean to help our staff and students
make more informed decisions about service learning
projects that we will initiate and/or support.
“We will have more detailed discussions throughout the
coming months. I believe we can craft a model that will
be beneficial to our immediate communities and in the
future. I am not totally certain as to what it will look
like, but I know it will be developed and implemented.”
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for the full article.
Alumni classes awarded at LJA
Annual Meeting
Leadership Jackson Alumni Classes
(2007-2008, 1995-1996, 1993-1994) received the "Best Attendance
Award" at the 2009 LJA Annual Meeting. Members were also awarded
dinner for all
Members from Leadership Greater Jackson
Class of 2007-2008; Trey Porter, Gwen Winters, Chris Bell,
Luigia Hodge, Alice Skelton, Ira Murray, Cheryl Turner.
Members from Leadership Greater Jackson
Class of 1995-1996; Denise Drake, Larry
Christian.
Members from Leadership Greater Jackson Class of 1993-1994;
Dr. Don Fortenberry, Donna Antoine-LaVigne, Mitzi Dease Paige,
Terryce Walker.
Leadership Jackson Alumni Members: Martin
Willoughby, Eddie Jean Carr, Mayor Harvey Johnson, Lori
Jackson-Stewart, Mike Naylor, Margaret McLarty.
Leadership Class of 2008-09
Graduates
The 2008-2009
Class of Leadership Greater Jackson’s
graduation was held May 14 at the
University Club.
The 22nd class of Leadership Greater
Jackson conducted several community
projects centered on JPD and the Hinds
County Sheriff’s Department over a nine
month period.
The class worked with Sheriff Malcolm
McMillin in implementing projects
designed to assist law enforcement
officers and improve the two
departments’ public image.
"Leadership Greater Jackson, a program
of the Greater Jackson Chamber
Partnership, tremendously enjoyed its
chance to partner with the Hinds County
Sheriff's Office and the Jackson Police
Department on projects ranging from
image enhancement, to inmate education,
to police supported athletic activities
and even to law enforcement involvement
with neighborhood associations," said
Meade Mitchell, chairman of the
Leadership Greater Jackson Board of
Trustees and a partner at the Butler
Snow law firm.
"Leadership Greater Jackson thanks the
many law enforcement officers from both
departments who diligently worked with
the class participants. Special thanks
to Malcolm McMillan, and more recently
to Tyrone Lewis, for their outstanding
support of the class efforts.
The class capped off the year by riding
along with officers of the Jackson
Police Department.
“By sitting beside the officers for a
day, you really see that they are good
people, hard working and really care
about the community,” Mitchell said.
The Leadership Greater Jackson Program,
which is a program of the Greater
Jackson Chamber Partnership, was founded
in November 1987. The program is
currently in its 22nd year. Leadership
Greater Jackson is a community-wide
leadership program that develops
existing and emerging leaders in the
metro area. The program is designed to
educate participants about major
community issues and alternate
approaches to solutions to community
problems.
Leadership Class gives presentations
The 2008-2009 Class of Leadership Greater
Jackson presented solutions and information regarding public
safety issues to the Jackson Police Department (JPD) and the
Hinds County Sheriff’s Department May 1.
The 22nd class of Leadership Greater Jackson
conducted several community projects centered on JPD and the
Hinds County Sheriff’s Department
over a nine
month period. The class worked
with Sheriff Malcolm McMillin in implementing projects designed
to assist law enforcement officers and improve the two
departments’ public image.
The Leadership Greater Jackson Program,
which is a program of the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership,
was founded in November 1987. The program is currently in its
22nd year. Leadership Greater Jackson is a community-wide
leadership program that develops existing and emerging leaders
in the metro area. The program is designed to educate
participants about major community issues and alternate
approaches to solutions to community problems.
Shown below are photos from the presentation:
Nominations for the 2009 -2010 Class
Dear Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership
members:
The Greater Jackson
Chamber Partnership established
Leadership Greater
Jackson in 1987 and it is one of the chamber’s flagship
programs.
The
chamber created the program in recognition of the need to
develop leaders with an understanding of the promises and
problems of the Greater Jackson Area and a grasp of the
diversity of the community.
Its objectives are to establish relationships among
existing and emerging leaders from varied segments of the
community, to assist in solving community problems, to educate
participants as to major community issues, and to develop and
inspire leadership in solving community issues.
Each class is a representative and demographically
balanced, there are many planned interpersonal exercises which
break through established barriers and each class addresses
issues and goals for the Greater Jackson area.
Over a nine month period, the program covers
many areas, including:
1)
History, money and human resources; 2) Racial and gender
diversity; 3) Criminal and civil justice; 4) City and county
government; 5) Education; 6) Human needs, health and services;
and 7) Quality of life
.
This year, the class is conducting several community projects
centered on the Jackson Police Department and the Hinds County
Sheriff’s Department.
Working with Malcolm McMillin, the
class is implementing projects designed assist law
enforcement officers and improve the two departments’ public
image.
There is
a critical need to develop effective leaders and create more
diverse relationships in our community.
Leadership Greater
Jackson provides citizens in the Greater Jackson area with
knowledge and insight into our metro communities and fosters
friendships that have a lasting, positive affect on our
community. The
program is a true metro leadership program, with participants
from Hinds, Madison,
and Rankin counties.
As chamber
members, the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership and its
Leadership Greater Jackson Board of Trustees seek your
nominations by your company or you for the 2009-2010 Leadership
Greater Jackson program.
A nomination form is appended.
Please feel free to nominate candidates that work and/or
live in Hinds, Madison,
or Rankin counties.
Please
e-mail your nomination form to Shirley Tucker at
stucker@greaterjacksonpartnership.com , mail the nomination
form to Leadership Greater Jackson, P. O. Box 22548, Jackson,
MS, 39225-2548,
or fax it to 601.352.5539 by Friday, June 19th.
Applications will be mailed to your nominees as soon as
their nomination is received.
For further information, contact Shirley Tucker 601.
948.7575.
Sincerely,
Meade
W. Mitchell
Chair,
Leadership Greater Jackson Board of Trustees
Click
here for more information.
LGJ RECRUITS NEW LEADERS
The 22nd class of Leadership Greater Jackson met
on September 12 & 13, 2008, for a two-day retreat at Whispering
Woods Hotel in Olive Branch, MS. Dr. Margaret Fitch-Hauser, a
professor of communication at Auburn State University, led
several group discussions and activities which helped develop
teambuilding, communication and leadership skills. The new class
is scheduled to meet again in October to discuss history,
business, and resources in the metro area. The class will also
be taking on projects to assist the Jackson Police Department
and the Hinds County Sheriff Department with crime in the metro
area through four to five community action teams.
INTRODUCING THE 2008-2009 CLASS OF LEADERSHIP GREATER JACKSON
LEADERSHIP GREATER JACKSON RECRUITS
NEW LEADERS
The 22nd class of Leadership Greater Jackson met on September 12
& 13, 2008, for a two-day retreat at Whispering Woods Hotel in
Olive Branch, MS. Dr. Margaret Fitch-Hauser, a professor of
communication at Auburn State University, led several group
discussions and activities which helped develop teambuilding,
communication and leadership skills. The new class is scheduled
to meet again in October to discuss history, business, and
resources in the metro area. The class will also be taking on
projects to assist the Jackson Police Department and the Hinds
County Sheriff Department with crime in the metro area
through four to five community action teams.
Meet
the members of the 2008-2009 Leadership Greater Jackson Class as
follows: (alphabetical order):
Matthew
Allen,
Warwick
Alley, Kristen
Ashworth,
Lee
Bush,
II, Othor
Cain,
Bryan
Carter,
Patricia
Chambliss, Ellen
Collins,
Lauren
Demoran,
Alfrado
Donelson,
Grace
Fisher,
Brad "Kamikaze"
Franklin, Timothy
Geddie,
John
Gomez,
Jennifer
Hall,
Rosalyn
Howard,
Lois "Patricia"
Ice,
Chondra
Johnson,
Robert
Kerley,
Dana
Larkin,Robert
Morton,
Tonja
Murphy,
Tonya
Neely,
Scott
Pedigo,
Brooke
Pennington, Larry
Perry,
Steven
Pickett,
Steven
Richardson, William Michael
Russ,
Charles "Chuck"
Sampson,
John
Scarbrough,
Otilia
Sebuktekin, Judi
Terzotis,
Lee Vance,
Christopher
Walters,
Fredrick
White,
Erica
Willis,
Wanda
Wilson,
and Taurus
Wright. For more
photos,
click here. For more information
about the class,
click here.
The 2007-2008 Class of Leadership
Greater Jackson
To view class list,
click here.
*To view more photos of the 2007-2008 Class of Leadership Greater Jackson, click
here.
Leadership Jackson Alumni
LJA members recently welcomed the new
2008-2009 Class of Leadership Greater Jackson at a reception
before the class departed to Olive Branch for their retreat.
Some of the alumni present included Wanda Aultman, Lori Stewart,
Margaret Dutcher, Margaret Fitch-Hauser, (facilitator),
Eddie Jean Carr, Dorothy Triplett, Cheryl Turner.
Leadership Greater Jackson
Director Shirley Tucker
For more information about Leadership Greater Jackson,
call (601) 948-7575 ext. 271.
HISTORY:
|
The Leadership Greater Jackson Program, which is a program of the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership , was founded in November 1986.
The program is currently in its 22nd year. Leadership
Greater Jackson
is a community-wide leadership program that develops
existing and emerging leaders in the metro area. The program is
designed to educate participants about major community
issues and alternate approaches to solutions to community
problems. Participants have sharpened their leadership skills
while gaining a better understanding of various aspects of the
community including forums on politics, education, the legal
system, healthcare, quality of life, government and economics.
Leadership Greater Jackson
is a nine-month program, which has
six-monthly sessions and three overnight retreats.
The Leadership Greater Jackson Board of Trustees is charged with the
responsibility of overseeing the annual program activities of
the program. The Board is comprised of community leaders and has
financial and policy responsibilities for all activities of
Leadership Greater Jackson.
Each year up to forty participants are selected to participate
in the program. Participants are selected by a committee that is
appointed by the Chairman of the Leadership Greater Jackson Board of
Trustees.
Awards
Leadership Greater Jackson has received national recognition in the
following years: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2002
Leadership Greater Jackson was designed to develop leaders with an
understanding of the promises and problems of Metro Jackson and
a grasp of the diversity of the community.
