South Shore Foundation Funds Youth Leadership Team for Third Year
March 2003

Youth leaders meet civic leaders Students who make up the South Shore-Marion County Youth Leadership Team met with civic leaders of Marion County recently. Students are from three schools and gather for monthly events. Shown are: (front row from left) Amber Burton, Rhonda Seawright, Danielle Davenport, Melissa Tabor, Wesley Duckworth, and Amber Rudolph; (second row from left) Michael Healea, Holly Henley, Sonya Smith, Alicia DeMeyer, Sean Cooke, Ashleigh Cockrum, Abby Blanchard, and Carole Reynolds; (third row from left) Marion County Judge Charles Trammell, Christine Hensley, Westley Harris, Yellville Mayor Janell Kirkwood, Courtney Herbst, Troy Hullett, Stephen Burkhart, Danielle Shirley, Yellville Chamber of Commerce Volunteer Roger Bates, Flippin School Principal John Carey, and Marion County Extension Agent Terry Davis

Marion County Youth Leadership Team has received $3,500 from its major sponsor, South Shore Foundation, for this year's activities. The youth leadership team has 21 ninth-grade students from the three Marion County public schools participating in monthly sessions to develop leadership skills.

Renee Myers, one of the founders of the project in 2001 and an adult advisor, said the purpose of the youth leadership program is to motivate and train young leaders to take an active role in their communities. Sponsors with South Shore Foundation are Entergy and the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Marion County Adult Leadership Team, and the three Marion County school districts.

During the year-long program, students first develop personal and interpersonal skills. They progress to learn teamwork skills, study civic responsibilities, meet civic leaders, and travel to the State Capitol at Little Rock to meet state leaders. The ninth-grade students learn about business and technology, careers, job interviews, and the real world. They undertake projects that benefit the community and they review their year's activities in a graduation ceremony in the spring.

A recent monthly session found the students learning about leadership from four Marion County adults: Janell Kirkwood, mayor of Yellville; Charles Trammell, county judge; Roger Bates, Yellville Chamber of Commerce leader and Southwestern Bell retiree; and Dr. John Carey, high school principal at Flippin.

For more information about the youth leadership team, contact Renee Myers, county Extension agent - family and consumer science, 870-449-6349.

The South Shore Foundation is the charitable foundation of NATCO, a family-owned, independent telephone company located at 301 E. Main St., Flippin, AR 72634. It serves a 658 - square-mile area in Marion and Boone Counties