Grads celebrate Leadership

Published 2:50 pm Friday, April 5, 2019

More than 100 graduates of Leadership Selma-Dallas County came together Thursday night at ArtsRevive for the organization’s 25th anniversary celebration, the first time many have reconnected with one another in years.

Tables were adorned with photos of various events the organization has hosted over the years and graduates mingled as jazz music played lightly in the background.

Callie Nelson, who was instrumental in organizing the anniversary gathering and graduate of the program’s 13th class, said graduates from the first class all the way up to the most recent were in attendance.

Email newsletter signup

“I think we’ve got a great turnout,” Nelson said, noting that 130 of the 350 graduates had registered to attend the event. “We’ve got a good, diverse group.”

Nelson noted that graduates previously met regularly for various activities, but the 25th anniversary event was the first collective activity the group had held in several years.

“This is the first time we’ve had an event where everyone can come back,” Nelson said.

Nelson noted that the program’s offerings have expanded over the years, providing participants with expanded lessons in leadership skills and training, conflict resolution and team building, and those lessons can be seen throughout the Queen City.

Nelson also noted that a feature of the program has become sharing perceptions and ideas on the community.

“I think people are really using it in their places of employment,” Nelson said. “There’s leaders across the board. We believe a community should be ‘leader full.’”

During the program, which kicked off with a meal and a few comments from Nelson, attendees had the opportunity to hear stories and testimonies from graduates throughout the years who have seen the benefits of the program and put them to work in their daily lives.