Lowndes Young Leaders Start 12th Year

The Columbus Lowndes Development LINK’s youth program Lowndes Young Leaders kicked off its 12th year in August 2012.

Throughout a nine-month term, students participate in monthly sessions in and out of the state designed to expose students to varying aspects of business and economic development, law and criminal justice, health care, quality of life, and state and local government. A three-part method of career exploration, cultural exposure and leadership development is administered by the LINK, the MUW-Center for Creative Learning and the Columbus Rotary Club.

Participants took part in their inaugural Leadership Training session on August 28, completing the Ropes Course at Plymouth Bluff Environmental Center and a half day of personality education and exploration with the MUW Center for Creative Learning.

The September session took the students to Jackson, Miss., where they embarked on a day of tours all focused on the media industry. Students toured WLBT (broadcasting), Hederman Brothers (printing and design), Eyevox Studios (graphic design and production) and The Godwin Group (public relations).

Activities are designed to develop skills in teamwork and collaboration, problem solving, communication, organization and planning, ethics, networking, personal development and leadership skills. Participants gain an increased awareness of how leadership affects all aspects of life.

For more information regarding Lowndes Young Leaders, contact Macaulay Whitaker at (662) 328-8369 or email mwhitaker@cldlink.org.

Pictured from left to right, bottom to top: Row 1: Katherine Maer Kerby, Bailey Beaird, Michaela Williams, Anna Clark, Ashley Brooks, Haley Kendrick, Elizabeth Fain: Row 2: India Yarborough, Breland Starr, Haley Good, Mary Gardner, Ana Parker, Jackie McGrath: Row 3: Ben Warren, Miya Snell, Nicholas Ellis, Mattox Heredia, Allie Rhett, Natalie Hardy, Mixson Bateman: Row 4: John Neil Stanback, Sam Warren, Jay Ellis, Evelyn Ray, Rachel Brown, Foster Wiygul