The Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce is currently recruiting members for the ninth Youth Leadership class, one of several workforce development initiatives.

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 Social 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 one-day retreat to build relationships and leadership skills.

“The goal of the program is to acquaint students with these aspects of the community and to increase their awareness of leadership roles that are available to students both now and in the future,” Bernadette Douglas, coordinator of the Chamber’s adult Leadership Cleveland program, said.

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 guidance departments of Cleveland High, Walker Valley and Bradley Central High Schools received applications for the program this week and will begin distribution immediately to interested students. Any student who will be a junior or senior during the 2010-11 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.

“We really enjoy working with the young adults in this program each year,” Sherry Crye, the Chamber’s director of workforce development, said. “I’m always impressed with how these students mature and develop an awareness of their own hometown, learning things they didn’t know about Cleveland and Bradley County. We look forward to meeting and working with each new class.”

Students must submit completed applications to their respective school guidance counselors no later than February 19 to be considered for the leadership class.

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 2010-11 Youth Leadership class will run from August 2010 through April 2011.