The next class of future community leaders recently kicked off a nine-month program as part of the Habersham Chamber of Commerce Leadership Habersham/Youth Leadership Habersham program.
The program, launched in 1990, is designed to cultivate community leaders by providing opportunities to review various community and governmental issues, tour business and industry, and gain leadership and problem-solving skills through experiential learning.
Now in its 30th year, the program has expanded to include select juniors and seniors to form the first-ever Youth Leadership Habersham Class.
“The Chamber already had in place this dynamic adult leadership program, and then we had the Junior Chamber Board program,” said Chamber President Mary Beth Horton. “It just made sense to blend the groups to create one program for the county. Because of this experience, we hope our youth will consider staying in or returning to the county after graduation. Northeast Georgia has much to gain from investing in the professional development of these student leaders.”
The combined class includes 22 adults and 33 students.
The University of Georgia’s Fanning Institute conducted the kickoff program to the combined class on September 25th with a session on multigenerational leadership.
The Leadership Habersham program will meet each month through May, and the students will join them for four of these sessions.
