A region cannot  become robust and healthy without leadership of all kinds in every venue. Responsible, visionary leadership is the primary tool that moves a region forward. If Texarkana is serious about the future of our community then the community must take responsibility for and actively invest in growing leadership. Without it we will soon be left behind.
There is an oft debated question about the nature of leadership, "Is one a born leader or can one learn leadership?" While this is continually researched in academia, all agree that great amounts of leadership can be learned, given the opportunity.
Texarkana USA is full of learning opportunities for leadership development. There are a growing number of venues emphasizing different aspects of leadership. Some of these programs are;

Leadership Texarkana (LT) is a year long program with monthly meetings. Its focus is on introducing emerging leaders to a broad knowledge of our community. Dedicated to developing a diverse group of leaders to serve in the Texarkana area designed to connect individuals from various backgrounds, professional levels, and organizations. Applications are on line. www.leadershiptexarkana.org  LT also sponsors a TYLT

The new Leadership, Management & Technology Academy at Texas Middle School

 

 

 

(FORWARD TEXARKANA would appreciate being notified of any strong leadership programs or opportunities we have overlooked. Please send us the program name, a brief description and a contact person and we will include it in this list)

These opportunities have emerged from groups that already view leadership development as important in the 21st century. For the sake of our future, Texarkana, USA should follow the lead of these entities and begin to view leadership development as part of the strategic plan to build our community.
Strategy for building community leadership demands purposed development including a thorough audit of existing leadership programs and a view of what could assist those entities already hard at work in this leadership. In addition education and experiential needs could be defined, targeted, and developed.
A possibility would be to have a loose confederation of community leadership programs that promotes collaboration, continuity, alignment, and direction to purposefully build leaders for this century.
New kinds of leadership must appear amidst the tumultuous changes our nation is facing.

Many of the leaders and the leadership paradigms of yesterday will not be successful in this new season. What can we do to facilitate the discovery and emergence of these individuals and ideas who can serve as leaders to move us forward?
Another challenge Texarkana faces is the clear lack of minority participation in our community. If in doubt, look at any organizational roster for support of this statement. Without leaders from minorities we will fail to bring the whole community forward.
One way to expedite progress in leadership development and growth is to challenge every leader in every facet of our community to take  their gifts, insight, experience, and move them into a larger arena than the one where they presently function. This would open leadership opportunities for younger leaders and enlarge opportunities for more experienced ones. In addition this movement would naturally result in new thinking in every sphere.

 

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