June 6, 2022- The Jerry J. Dawson Civic Leadership Institute kicked off its’ annual week-long Leadership Series.
The purpose of the event is to introduce students to the Decatur Macon county community and build relationships through shared personal journeys.
“Students who are involved in DCLI are able to come for a week, sit back, and learn,” DCLI coordinator Dr. Juanita Morris said.”And how do we help and support them in creating a sense of belonging, and how do we help and support them in understanding what comes next and what they are transitioning into and out of.”
Last year’s theme was resiliency. This year, the theme is “everything matters”. The reason for the theme is that for youth at this stage in their life, everything in life matters.
Each day will feature a community leader who will speak to the students about how they can impact their community.
Monday’s speakers included Luis Peralta, an educational professional with 30 years of experience, and Mia Jackson-Tyus, founder of Power in Pumps LLC.
Peralta’s presentation focused on culture, and the understanding of languages and the advantages of speaking multiple languages.
“We will have a session on culture each day this week because it all matters,” Dr. Morris said. “We are not one of anything and all of anything. The goal is to develop a different level of understanding so I can better understand myself and then I can better communicate and connect with others. What better way than to invite someone in who has been an interpreter for United Nations. He [Peralta] was super powerful.”
Jackson-Tyus led a workshop on vision boards.
“Vision boards are amazing because they help us call out the things that we have been called to do,”Dr. Morris said. “People will try to tell them what they should be or what they are good at, with good intentions, but what I want them to do is to have some tips and skills to call from inside what they have been given. Because that creates a different life but the only way we create a different life is if we are honest with ourself in what we have been created to do. Because that is the code.”
The event is being held at Richland Community College, in the Shilling Salons. The week-long series began on Monday, June 6th and is set to last until Thursday, June 9th. Each day will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 3 p.m.
Featured Speakers for the rest of the week:
Tuesday, June 7:
Bruce Nims- Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Millikin University’s Tabor School of Business
Tyra Manns-Choices Fitness
Shantel Rogers-Founder and CEO of T.E.L. Solutions
John Kindseth, Deputy City Manager
Wednesay, June 8:
Ray Fields- Papa Murphy’s owner
Natalie Beck-President of Macon Community Foundation
Sonja Chargois- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Coordinator at DMH
Kelly Hill- Registered Nurse, Certified Professional of Healthcare Quality
Thursday, June 9:
Gussie Reed- Retired Executive, Community Leader
Benie Kalala- Community Sourcing Strategist at HSHS St. Mary’s
Dr. Jeremy Morris- Vice President of Business and Administration at Richland
Reverend Courtney Carson- Executive Director of External Affairs and Community at Richland
Below is the full interview with Dr. Juanita Morris.
Below is the DCLI Leadership Series photo gallery.
