Institute to focus on improving communities

By Jennifer Koesling
Staff Reporter

TCU Leadership Council is presenting the seventh annual Leadership Institute “Building for the Future” today and Saturday in the Student Center.

The Institute will bring emerging and experienced leaders together to discuss the importance of building and sustaining supportive and effective communities, said Penny Woodcock, coordinator for the TCU leadership center.

The event will feature keynote speaker Bliss Browne, founder of the community development program “Imagine Chicago.”

“Imagine Chicago” is a community development program that has had success in rallying the people of Chicago to make positive changes in the city’s neighborhoods.

“I was told by students who have attended other leadership seminars featuring Bliss Browne that they really wanted her to speak at TCU,” Woodcock said.

The Institute kicks off with dinner today. Students will have the opportunity to interact with well-known journalists, politicians, religious and business leaders from around the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Woodcock said.

State representative Lon Burnam, Fort Worth Star-Telegram columnist Bob Ray Sanders and district judge Sharen Wilson are among the local leaders who will be attending.

Woodcock said this is a good way for students to begin networking and asking questions about how these leaders contribute to the community.

Students will be asked to select one of the six major topics to discuss which include: criminal justice and law enforcement, government, education, business commerce, health care and social issues. A community leader will work with each of these teams to discuss the issues and form action plans. At the conclusion of the Institute, each team will present its plan to the rest of the groups.

The Institute is founded on the principles of the TCU mission statement, said former Leadership Council chairman Kenny Oubre.

“We are in a global community,” Oubre said. “Everybody should want to talk about this.”

Current Leadership Council chairwoman Paige Reeve said this year the council shifted its focus from basic leadership skills to discussing community involvement so that the Institute offers something new to students who are already involved in leadership classes.

“This is an opportunity for students to find their niche and how they can impact their community, so when they do contribute, it will make a difference.” Reeve said.

Jennifer Koesling
j.c.koesling@student.tcu.edu