40 Years and Counting!!
It is 2013 – and that means that Leadership Fort Worth is 40 years old! You know what they say -- “Life begins at 40” – so it is an exciting time to celebrate and look ahead to our next 40 years.
Be sure you are saving the evening of May 9 for our big celebration event at the Worthington Renaissance Hotel. Leadership WORTH Celebrating: 40 Years of Making History will be a fun time of looking at the accomplishments in Fort Worth over 40 years. Seven of our Mayors from that timeframe will be with us: Mayors Hugh Parmer, Jewel Woods, Bob Bolen, Kay Granger, Kenneth Barr, Mike Moncrief, and Betsy Price. I promise that you will not want to miss it!
Issues Initiatives in Process
In our last Dialogue, I told you about the four new Issues Initiatives that our 2013 Leadership Class is engaged in. This year’s 40th anniversary Leadership Class is the group launching this new effort and is making great progress on the following issues:
- Health – focus on obesity; facilitator - Jackie Meeks
- Education-focus on completion rates; facilitator - Jared Cobb
- Transportation-focus on the success of TEXRail; facilitator - John Sowada
- Homelessness- focus on employment; facilitator - Alan Lobaugh
- Art- focus on sustainability; facilitator - Cindy Boyd
YOUR ROLE in this new initiative: Attend the LFW Annual Meeting on June 13. The five initiative groups will report to our full membership at that time – and offer an opportunity for some of you to get more involved in addressing these important concerns.
We are extremely grateful to the William E. Scott Foundation for their support of this new aspect of the Leadership Class.
Steer Fort Worth
Steer Fort Worth, Mayor Betsy Price’s initiative for young adults, celebrated its first birthday in November at Joe T’s. Leadership Fort Worth facilitated a discussion of new topics and opportunities for the program. On Jan. 11, the second year of SFW was launched with a Big Brainstorm at the Cendera Center. Participants signed up to work in one of three areas facilitated by LFW members:
- Health and Wellness – Jose Pagan
- Homelessness – Travis Devault
- Arts and Culture – Cathy Neece Brown
Regional Training Opportunity
The Metroplex Leadership Network is hosting a day on regional issues on Feb. 7 at the SMU campus in Plano. LFW members are encouraged to participate. Specific registration information will be sent to you via email blast soon.
Harriet B. Harral, Ph.D.