Students help middle school teens develop leadership
By Joi Harris
Staff Reporter

Several students in conjunction with Leadership Fort Worth have paired with area middle school children to help foster the ideals of leadership and community service.

Leadership Council hosted the LeaderKids kick-off in October as it had done the previous two years of the partnership. This year, however, Ann Barr, community development for Leadership Fort Worth, said she asked the group to enlist members as year-long mentors for the program.

“The TCU mentors are a real enhancement to the program,” Barr said. “They are closer in age so our students are able to relate better to them.”

LeaderKids is a training program for eighth-grade students selected from each of the Fort Worth Independent School District middle schools. According to the Leadership Fort Worth Web site, the program’s mission is to develop leadership abilities in these students through community involvement.

Erika Delgado, co-chairwoman of the outreach committee of Leadership Council, said the mentors, who are each paired with two children in the program, are required to contact their buddy twice a month in addition to attending a monthly group outing.

“Traditionally Leadership Fort Worth (provided adult mentors),” said Delgado, a senior Spanish major. “They realized the impact we had on (the students) at one of the kick-off events and wanted that to last the entire year.”

Kenneth Foote, an eighth-grader at McLean Middle School, is a LeaderKids participant.

His mother Mary Foote said Kenneth has shown improved self-confidence and has learned a lot from the student mentors.

“When you can instill a sense of community and leadership with these kids it is something that will help them throughout their lifetime,” she said.

Courtnie Williams, a senior English major, said LeaderKids is her first community service program in four years. She said the program is beneficial because she wants to teach at the junior high level. She and the child she is mentoring, Guliana Chavira, agree they have developed a special relationship.

Chavira, who attends Rosemont Middle School, said she has been able to confide in Williams about things going on in her life.

“We’re like so close,” Chavira said. “I can tell her all of my problems and it’s good because I’m not always thinking about it anymore.”

Williams said when participating in programs like this, it is hard to know how to deal with the students and really know if a difference is being made in their lives. However, she said, she really feels good to know that her involvement is making a difference in Chavira’s life.

Delgado said Williams’ and Chavira’s relationship is the epitome of what LeaderKids is about: Being a positive influence and encouraging leadership.

“Even if I don’t personally impact my kids’ lives, to see Courtnie impact her kid’s life is good enough to me,” Delgado said.

j.s.harris@tcu.edu