Great News!
Project 17 wins $1 million regional leadership training
award
The Kansas
Leadership Center has announced that Project 17 - the Southeast Kansas
regionalization initiative - has won $1 million in leadership training
through the Center's Academy for Team Leadership initiative.
The Academy for Team Leadership is designed
to help turn the tide on a tough public issue. The Leadership Center
will provide immersion-style, leadership training for up to four years,
for up to 400 southeast Kansans. This effort will foster leadership
skills and a greater understanding of southeast Kansas' strengths and
challenges as a region.
"We were looking
for a partnership with a creative, committed organization ready to roll
up its sleeves and go to work on a problem," said KLC President and CEO
Ed O'Malley. "We found a great partner in Project 17 that recognizes
the value of empowering the next generation of southeast Kansas
leaders."
Project 17 is a
regionalization initiative named after the 17 counties traditionally
considered southeast Kansas. It emerged from a joint effort of the four
southeast Kansas senators: Pat Apple, Jeff King, Bob Marshall, and
Dwayne Umbarger. The foundation of Project 17, established by the
hundreds of participants at the November 2011 southeast Kansas summit,
is that Southeast Kansas must work together for our common good, or the
region will fail separately.
"The key to vibrant
communities and a strong southeast Kansas is local leadership," said
Senator Jeff King. "This exciting partnership between Project 17 and the
Leadership Center will provide new regional leaders with the tools to
improve the lives of southeast Kansans."
Project 17 is
focused on the four items identified by participants at the November
2011 summit: (1) economic growth; (2) improved health outcomes; (3)
promoting regional leadership; and (4) creating a permanent structure to
ensure a long-term regional effort. The Academy for Team Leadership
will form the cornerstone of Project 17's leadership efforts.
"The Kansas
Leadership Center will bring a serious leadership effort that is focused
on the 17 counties of Southeast Kansas," said Senator Apple. "We are
very pleased to have this effort as part of Project 17."
Project 17 was
selected for the Academy for Team Leadership from approximately 100
interested parties and 21 final applicants. The Visioneering Wichita
Health Alliance has also been selected for an Academy for Team
Leadership award.
"We have a strong
tradition of leadership in Southeast Kansas," said Senator Umbarger.
"This is an opportunity to build on that tradition and make sure we
continue to have the leadership we need to jump start the region's
economy and bring more good-paying jobs back to Southeast Kansas."
The Leadership
Center will begin meeting soon with Project 17 to plan the initial
trainings, which could begin as early as this year. KLC officials will
attend the next meeting of the Project 17 Steering Committee at 9:00
a.m. in Iola on April 13 to discuss the next phase of the Academy for
Team Leadership project.
"I want to thank
Senator King and the Leadership Working Group of Project 17 for their
outstanding work with the Kansas Leadership Center," said Senator
Marshall. "This program will help prepare our southeast Kansas leaders
for a brighter future."
The Kansas
Leadership Center opened in 2007 with a multi-year, renewable grant from
The Kansas Health Foundation, and is charged with fostering civic
leadership for stronger, healthier and more prosperous communities.
I am proud to call Pat Apple my senator and also Project 17 as my customer!
Until next time!
Joe Rossini
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