JONESBORO, Ark. – The City is seeking participants for the initial Mayor’s Jonesboro Neighborhood Leadership class, an eight-part program created to foster civic engagement and create new leaders in our growing city.
“We want to expand and grow our leadership base in Jonesboro,” Mayor Harold Perrin said. “I am excited to launch this program to find new leaders to ensure every neighborhood in our city is represented – and that everyone who wants to participate in improving Jonesboro has a seat at the table.”
The program will begin in September and require attendance 6-8 p.m. for eight Thursdays, Sept. 6-Nov. 1. Those interested can find applications on the City of Jonesboro website, http://www.jonesboro.org, or pick them up at the Municipal Center, 300 S. Church St. Applications will be accepted until Aug. 3. Eighteen participants (three from each ward) will be selected for this inaugural class.
Program coordinator and Community Development Director Tiffny Calloway said the program will teach rising leaders about the inner workings of city government and how to participate in it. She said the target crowd is not those already involved in civic service.
“We are an expanding community, and our goal is to create leaders from a wider swath of the citizenry to better reflect all of our neighborhoods, residents young and old, from all backgrounds, education levels, faiths, etc.,” Callaway said.
Perrin said he hopes the program will extend years into the future and educate leaders in each ward and neighborhood of the city on the processes of city government.
“We have a lot of people who want to offer their opinions and experiences in Jonesboro, but when we search for representatives on various committees and boards, we tend to find the same pool of candidates apply,” Perrin said. “My hope is that this program expands that pool and creates a stronger core of people invested in their city’s future.”
For more information, email JNL@Jonesboro.org or call the City Community Development Department at 870-933-4635
press release – Bill Campbell, City of Jonesboro
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