The spirit of graduation is in the air, and no doubt 33 new metro area community leaders are proud to be a part of that spirit.
In what is known has the classy University Club in Downtown Jackson, the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership held it 22nd class of Leadership Greater Jackson (LGJ) Graduation Ceremony, Thursday, May 14.
“We’re the best class ever!” said class member John Gomez, who led the “Reflections from the Class of 2008-2009” segment of the ceremony. Gomez is the associate director for Downtown Jackson Partners.
The chamber founded the program in November 1986. Currently in its 23rd year, the program educate participants to facts of major community issues and alternate approaches to solving community problems. It is a nine month program with six monthly sessions and three overnight retreats.
Since its inception, the program has graduated more than 800 leaders, according to Shirley R. Tucker, executive director of Leadership Development. “This group rallied behind the referendum for the construction of the convention center,” she said. “That was one of their biggest projects.” Each class is expected to take on a major project of community concern.
In his message, Board Chairman Meade Mitchell told the employers of the graduates: “Sharing these individuals with us these nine months has not been easy, but assured that when they were away from the job and with us, they were still working. A hint of laughter permeated the audience.
Meade also listed month by month the various leadership skills component in which the members participated.
Each new class Leadership Greater Jackson begins in August, where most members are meeting for the first time and travel on a bus to their first trip. Meade said the bus trip is a mechanism to help them get acquainted.
Mitchell himself is a product of Greater Leadership Jackson. He has actually come up through the ranks from class member to board member to board chairman. “Leadership Jackson gives you a chance to meet people from all walks of life,” he said. Mitchell said the program’s diversity component often prove to be a real eye opener from participants as they learn the cultural of the different races and/or ethnic backgrounds.
During the graduation ceremony, as several class members gave reflections, Othor Cain echoed the slogan from President Barack Obama; “Yes, We Can.” He said he used that quote, because he applied for Leadership Greater Jackson two times, and now he is a graduate.
Cain – on behalf of the 2008-2009 class – also announced that each member had already paid their alumni dues. Then he presented the organization with a alumni check for more than $2000.
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