Training Future Leaders in Jackson, MS
Strong and effective leadership plays a vital role in a community’s growth. Good leaders in Jackson, MS, and the surrounding communities serve as catalysts for progress, fostering an environment where all residents can thrive and achieve their full potential.
Jackson’s up-and-coming leaders are engaging in strategic planning and advocating for the needs and concerns of the community. Organizations, such as Leadership Greater Jackson, Youth Leadership Jackson and the Change Collective, are training future leaders to channel their passions into action.
Focused on the Future
Modeled after the Leadership Greater Jackson program, Youth Leadership Jackson is a community-wide leadership program for high school sophomores and juniors that takes place over about six months. The program is designed to expose young leaders to the various aspects of society and teach them valuable leadership skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, networking and communication.
“For example, one day might be focused on criminal justice, and, on that day, students visit the Jackson Police Department and hear from people involved in the youth court system,” says Trey Vernaci, chair of Leadership Greater Jackson.
“They might also hear from policymakers around that focus area. Hopefully this exposure will give them the ability to take that information, along with some leadership skills, and be able to make some impactful change once they get out of high school or even while they’re still in high school.”
Learning to Lead
Vernaci says students also learn the importance of collaboration as they see how the region’s organizations and agencies work together to positively impact the community. He says the skills they learn can be applied to their academic pursuits and career preparation as well.
“I think going through the program itself is a signal that there’s an element of civic care that each of them brings to the table. And I hope that that’s compelling to a future college or to a future employer to know that they are not only hiring someone who wants to do this job but is also doing it for the betterment of the community overall,” he says.
Vernaci says it’s important to teach these skills early because it creates a pipeline of innovative leaders to help the region grow well into the future.
“When you don’t have a good pool of strong leaders to take on some of these really critical positions, it’s hard to drive ideation around what economic change should look like,” he says.
“You need people in positions to make those connections with different entities that might help drive economic change. When you don’t have that pool of people with the skills to really lean into what the city needs, then you’re just robbing the city over and over again of economic development opportunities.”
“A major goal is to not only equip (participants) to be future community or civic leaders, but also to improve each of their lives and the lives of people in their community.”
Dexter Mason, Change Collective
The Change They Want to See
Tapping into a city’s leadership potential to spur growth and solve problems is also a mission of former President Barack Obama’s Change Collective. The organization helps identify, develop and elevate emerging leaders and changemakers. Jackson was chosen as one of the organization’s inaugural host cities, along with Detroit and Chicago.
“A major goal is to not only equip (participants) to be future community or civic leaders, but also to improve each of their lives and the lives of people in their community,” says Dexter Mason, managing director of the Change Collective.
Participants have access to leadership development training opportunities as well as a wide network of mentors and leaders who are tackling issues both locally and nationally. The Jackson cohort is composed of professionals from a variety of backgrounds and fields, from educators and entrepreneurs to community organizers.
“We have such a great, rich, diverse group here in Jackson. The skills they are learning translate to all sectors of life. Leadership development, coalition building and networking skills are all transferable skills, not just within this program but within all industries and sectors,” Mason says.
