AMERICUS — Advancing Sumter is now enlisting individuals to apply for the 2016 community leadership development class that begins on Jan. 19, 2016.
Now in its third year, the Advancing Sumter program was initiated through the local Sumter Archway Partnership with the University of Georgia. The program is targeted to the whole community with a goal of providing leadership training that can be used by individuals in their jobs, civic clubs, churches and elected capacities. Recruitment and selection is geared toward insuring a diverse group of citizens without restrictions on age, gender or educational attainment.
The program began with a “Train the Trainer” initiative, using curriculum developed through the University of Georgia J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development. The first “trainer” graduates have continued to facilitate the 12 weekly sessions for the past two years. Now, the trainers and some 37 Advancing Sumter graduates are the basis of a steering committee to provide oversight and support staff to continue the process of developing potential leaders in the community.
If you are a member of the Sumter County community who wants to develop his or her leadership skills, or if you are an employer in the community who wishes to provide training for your employees, please fill in the application found at: www.sumtercountychamber.com. Select Chambers of Commerce, Workforce Development Division, Advancing Sumter.
There are three ways to submit the application: it can be mailed to Americus-Sumter County Chamber of Commerce, P>O> Box 724, Americus GA 31709; call 229-924-8784 (Attention: Advancing Sumter Leadership Institute); or by email at advancingsumter@sumtercountychamber.com (Subject Line: Advancing Sumter Leadership). The fee for the program is $50 per individual. The deadline for submitting applications is Dec. 4, 2015.
The first of 12 weekly classes begins on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016, with graduation on April 5, 2016. Classes begin at 5:30 p.m. and are dismissed by 8:30 p.m.
The workshop modules include: Understanding Community Leadership, Effective Communication, Valuing Community Diversity, Group Dynamics, Conducting Successful Meetings, Group Problem Solving and Decision Making, Managing Conflict, and Building Communities through Partnerships and Collaboration.
For more information about Advancing Sumter, please contact Mary Alice Applegate, Sumter Archway Professional, at 229-938-9385 or mapple@uga.edu, or contact Andrea Oates at 229-931-2705 or aoates@southgatech.edu