>> CHAMBER
Leadership Baldwin selected its newest cohort with 20 adult participants from within the community.
Leadership Baldwin was started in 1981 by the Chamber of Commerce and is an eight-month program that introduces a cohort of participants to the community through networking, job introductions, and working with nonprofit organizations in the area.
In the late 1990s to early 2016, the organization was briefly run by a special committee before being returned to the Chamber of Commerce. President & CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Kara Lassiter is in charge of the program and runs the cohort every other year.
“Since 2016, we have revitalized the program and it has grown,” said Lassiter. “This year was our largest class of nominations.”
This year 20 participants were selected based on nominations from alumni of Leadership Baldwin and an application process. Participants are not required to live in Baldwin County but are required to at least work inside county lines or be actively involved in the community.
“Our alumni nominate who they want to be in the next class. Those nominees then go through an application process and from those applications, we select who the participants are,” said Lassiter.
Leadership Baldwin meets monthly, tours various areas of the community, networks with community and business leaders, and broadens their knowledge of the community, as well as works with a local nonprofit organization for a class project. Currently, the cohort is accepting proposals for the class project and will eventually vote on which one they would like to complete during this year.
“We tour the community to help them familiarize themselves with the community and help them network with local leaders, organizations, local businesses, and more,” said Lassiter. “For example, we’ve had a day of public safety, healthcare, primary and secondary education, economic development, et cetera.”
Alongside the Leadership Baldwin cohort, Lassiter stated there is an annual Youth Leadership Baldwin cohort open to juniors in any Baldwin County High School. Youth Leadership Baldwin is very similar to its adult cohort, allowing juniors to tour the community, network, and get involved within the community in smaller ways. However, Youth Leadership Baldwin does not complete a class project.
“It is similar to our adult class. Both Leadership and Youth Leadership Baldwin also have a shared field trip when we visit the Georgia State Capitol and meet with state representatives, so they have some interaction with each other as well,” said Lassiter.
The kickoff for Leadership Baldwin will be Aug. 24 with an alumni mixer. More than 250 alumni will be invited to meet and interact with the new class of leaders. Then, in September, Leadership Baldwin will have its first official class day.
“I’m excited to kick off our cohort shortly and begin our youth program It’s always an honor to introduce students and adults to parts of the community they may not know about,” said Lassiter. “I look forward to a wonderful year ahead.”