Twenty-three young people from Bradley Central, Cleveland and Walker Valley High Schools and Tennessee Christian Preparatory School participated in a daylong retreat to begin their Youth Leadership Class of 2016-17 experience. Youth Leadership is a workforce development initiative of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber’s 2016-17 Youth Leadership students worked on team-building skills at Johnston Woods in part by working as a group to help each student scale a wall and descend on the other side.
William Lamb, director of Lee University Leonard Center, began the Youth Leadership retreat with inspiring words about the journey toward becoming an effective leader
The 15th year of the Cleveland/Bradley Chamber of Commerce Youth Leadership program kicked off with 23 high school juniors and seniors attending a daylong leadership retreat before the start of their academic school year. The students, selected in an application process a few months ago, represent Bradley Central, Cleveland and Walker Valley High Schools and Tennessee Christian Preparatory School.
The Youth Leadership program encompasses eight months and gives the students opportunities to learn about local economy, heritage and tourism, city and county government and services, and health and human services. They also experience a day in Nashville to learn about state government.
William Lamb, director of Lee University Leonard Center, was the kick-off speaker with inspiring words for the students about their journey. He challenged the students to think about three things: “What do you want to leave behind you?”, “What do you want to be remembered for?” and” What do you want to be when you grow up?” Mr. Lamb also stressed, “Leadership takes time.”
Following Mr. Lamb’s presentation, the students were involved in activities that focused on getting to know each other, team building, critical thinking, creativity and competition. The young leaders also reviewed different leadership qualities discussed in Ed Gerety’s book Combinations: Opening the Door to Student Leadership, which was required reading prior to the retreat. The students enjoyed competing in a Jeopardy game with the “answers” relating to the book, facts about Cleveland and current trivia.
The 23 young people continued to learn about each other, team-building skills and other leadership traits as they participated in activities at Johnston Woods led by Adam Reuss, youth minister at Broad Street United Methodist Church. The highlight of the team-building exercises was a group effort to help each student scale a wall and descend on the other side.
The 2016-17 Youth Leadership class will participate in a service project for Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland that will include a challenge for each school to raise funds for the local organization and an investment of “sweat equity” by working on a Habitat house or in the Habitat ReStore.
“This class is already excited about the opportunities to learn about their community and see our local leaders in action,” Sherry Crye, Youth Leadership coordinator, said about this year’s class. “We can already see their leadership traits and know they will develop into much stronger leaders as the year continues. The year’s activities will also teach them the importance of how they will contribute as future leaders in our community.”
Members of 2016-17 Youth Leadership class from Bradley Central High School are Olivia Dillard, Caroline Gregory, Rhyne Howard, Briar Lee and Olivia Williams.
Representing Cleveland High School are Brian Byerly, Olivia Calfee, Sydney Corum, Katie Estes, Kolby Goodwin, Breanna Melton and Romeo Wykle.
Youth leaders from Tennessee Christian Preparatory School are Cameron Douglas and Maranda Dye.
Brandon Akiona, Lachlan Baker, Lauren Beavers, Haley Bradshaw, Megan Malone, Jasmine Ngo, Hunter Shamblin, Scarlett Wilson and Keyla Zunun-Roblero are youth leaders from Walker Valley High School.