Alabama is sending seven community leaders from across the state’s Black Belt region to the Delta Regional Authority’s Delta Leadership Institute.

This includes Kennard Randolph, outreach coordinator for U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell’s office.

“It is a privilege to be chosen as a part of this distinguished program, and I believe that this opportunity will give me the ability to further my knowledge and skills, to network with other change makers and to learn more about how I can play a role in the betterment of my city and the Black Belt region,” Randolph said.

Randolph and the six other leaders will join fellows from seven other states and participate in the 10-month DLI Executive Academy program to help further their skills in community leadership and policy development to promote regional collaboration and local economic growth.

“Alabama has a strong partnership with the Delta Regional Authority, and I am proud of the community leaders from Alabama who have been chosen for the new class,” said Gov. Kay Ivey.

In addition to Randolph, Alabama’s 2017-2018 DLI Executive Academy fellows are:

*Greg Cochran of Montgomery, director of advocacy and public policy for the Alabama League of Municipalities

*Johnny Green of Auburn, assistant vice president for student affairs at Auburn University

*Quinton Harris of Tuskegee, area director for the USDA Rural Development

*Joseph Oglesby of Monroeville, mayor of the city of Monroeville

*Steven Sigler of Fairhope, area director for the USDA Rural Development

*Brandy Wilkerson of Thomasville, planning director for the Alabam Tombigbee Regional Commission.

DLI fellows will attend six sessions across the region, visiting each of the eight states in the DRA footprint. They will engage in policy and program development, advocacy training, case-study discussions, and on-the-ground field experiences aligned with DRA’s priorities for the region.

Those priorities include: transportation and infrastructure; workforce training and education; entrepreneurship and disaster resilience for small businesses and communities; public health; policy and governance; and culture and tourism.

The new leadership class began its journey last week with a session in Potosi, MO., to learn more about the region and how they can contribute to increasing community capacity across the Delta.

The class includes seven members from Alabama; eight from Arkansas; five from Illinois; five from Kentucky; seven from Louisiana; eight from Mississippi; four from Missouri; and seven from Tennessee.