A program designed to develop leaders who value diversity in decisionmaking at home, work and in the community has selected its seventh class.
Twenty-four McLean County residents have been chosen for the 2016 class of the Multicultural Leadership Program (MCLP).
From fall through April, they will meet twice a month to polish their community leadership skills and tackle five community service projects selected from among 21 projects proposed by community organizations and non-profit agencies.
Each year, participants are divided into five groups, with each working on a project with a non-profit. The 2014-2015 class worked with the Challenger Learning Center, Community Health Care Clinic, Immanuel Health Center, Meadows at Mercy Creek and Prairie Pride Coalition.
The 2015-2016 class is Nikita Burns, Georgene Chissel, Leslie Clay, Callie Cummings, Hetal Dhirawani, Vanita Giripraskash, Cindy Hauk, Alex Johnson, Vasudeva Kalla, Phillip King, Angela Kuppersmith, Carolyn LaVere, Richard Lozada, Alicia McKeighan, Allegra Menken, Sunish Menon, Poshlyn Nicholson, Appana Pediredla, Julie Phillips, Justin Prather, Katherine Pratt, Darrell Richards, Jeffrey Vargo, and Lohit Kumar Reddy Venati.
"Much is expected of the participants," said MCLP Executive Director Linda Bollivar. "But, at the same time, so many community leaders and organizations gather to support the process and help them develop not only themselves personally but nurture their community commitment and involvement."
To date, the program has been involved in these community partnerships:
2015 Community Projects
- Meadows at Mercy Creek
- Community Health Care Clinic
- Prairie Pride Coalition
- Immanuel Health Center
- Challenger Learning Center
2014 Community Projects
- Community Cancer Center
- Heartland Head Start
- Faith in Action
- The Baby Fold
- Illinois Shakespeare Festival
2013 Community Projects
- Labyrinth Outreach Services to Women
- Illinois Heart and Lung Foundation
- David Davis Mansion
- Center for Youth and Family Solutions
- Autism Society of McLean County
2012 Community Projects
- Ecology Action Center
- Habitat for Humanity of McLean County
- Heartland Head Start
- Community Health Care Clinic
- Illinois Prairie Community Foundation
2011 Community Projects
2010 Community Projects