Community leaders from the cities of Basehor, Linwood, Lansing, Leavenworth, and Tonganoxie Kansas converged on Fort Leavenworth to get a glimpse of daily Army operations inside the installation’s gate.
Nineteen area participants, including educators, emergency responders, city government and area industry leaders took part in the visit as part of the Leadership Southern Leavenworth County program.
The LSLC is an annual initiative sponsored by the Southern Leavenworth County Area Chambers of Commerce. The goal of the program is to establish a network of community leaders and provide upcoming leaders an opportunity to train and to serve their communities.
“Since our first class convened in 1990, Leadership Southern Leavenworth County has trained and challenged hundreds of talented individuals to lead and serve our communities, said Diana Weaver, Director of the Basehor Community Library, and program lead for LSLC. “We work closely with the Kansas Leadership Center to incorporate content from their inspiring and empowering program.”
The post visit included a briefing by the Fort Leavenworth Garrison Commander, Col. Duane Mosier, Garrison Command Sergeant Major, Command Sergeant Major Erika Rhine-Russell, and the Civilian Deputy to the Garrison Commander, Johnny Bevers. The command team shared the similarities of Army garrison functions with those of local municipalities. The program participants also learned about the economic impact that Fort Leavenworth has on the surrounding region.
During the discussion, the garrison command team provided the community leaders with some of their own personal leadership principles that guide them. Mosier encouraged the group members to “be the driving force for change.” Adding that successful leaders have humility, build trust, and exercise empathy and emotional intelligence.
“Empathy helps you identify things you can do to enable others to be better leaders,” Mosier said.
In addition to learning about the Army and other agencies in the region, the participants of the program also give back to their communities by designing and implementing a unique service project to benefit Southern Leavenworth County.
In addition to community leaders, the program is also open to select high school students looking for ways to give back to the community while learning leadership traits that will help in their future.
When asked about the visit to Fort Leavenworth, Tonganoxie High School student and Leadership Southern Leavenworth County participant Kasia Baldock encouraged others to find opportunities to learn about leadership. “I think it is important to learn about the area outside of where you live,” she said. “It helps to broaden your perspective when you step away from your comfort zone and learn from other people’s point of view."
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