The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama is proud to facilitate the community's premier leadership development programs: Leadership Tuscaloosa and Forerunners. Leadership Tuscaloosa is a nine-month program for professional adults in the Tuscaloosa area. Forerunners, sponsored by the Leadership Tuscaloosa Alumni Association, is a nine-month program for high school juniors from public and private schools in Tuscaloosa County.

Leadership Tuscaloosa

Leadership Tuscaloosa

The Chamber is instrumental in developing leaders who become committed to impacting West Alabama in a positive, collaborative way.

Through programs such as Leadership Tuscaloosa and Forerunners, participants gain increased knowledge of the area's economic, social, historical and political issues and needs. It is the intent of Leadership Tuscaloosa to provide a foundation of such knowledge that potential leaders can use to aid their involvement and success in community endeavors.

Our goal is to make each selected participant more aware of and sensitive to the wide range of needs and opportunities in the community through shared experiences with a cross section of highly capable fellow citizens.

Leadership Tuscaloosa plays an increasing role in shaping the positive direction of many individuals inclined toward making our community a better place to live, work and play.

The objective of Leadership Tuscaloosa is to help meet the community's need for informed, responsible and effective leadership. The Leadership Tuscaloosa program is designed to:

  • Inform participants about the area's assets, needs and potential in several major areas. This will be accomplished through contact with local, state and national leaders who will offer information and thoughtful analysis of the study topics.
  • Stimulate the interest and awareness of participants in the program area and encourage a team approach to solving community problems. From such an approach will come the knowledge that responsible and responsive leadership is created through the efforts of citizens who often have differences of opinion and diverse views.
  • Improve participants understanding of their individual leadership roles as well as the diversity of leadership styles and skills required in solving complex community problems.
  • Develop and expand the participants' capacity to communicate and interact with one another, community leaders and fellow citizens; and to form a network of cooperative community involvement.

Leadership Tuscaloosa Alumni Association

Leadership Tuscaloosa Alumni Association

The Leadership Tuscaloosa program has produced more than 1,000 graduates since its inception in 1983. The Leadership Tuscaloosa Alumni Association (LTAA) is a network of graduates who are more aware of the changing issues in our community, who are engaged in our community and who help develop future leaders in our community. Under the direction of a Board of Directors, LTAA coordinates and funds Forerunners, provides scholarship funds for current class members and volunteers time in the Adopt-A-School partnership with Flatwoods Elementary. LTAA also facilitates class reunions, organizes opportunities for continuing community education and supports efforts that encourage responsible citizenship.

Forerunners

Forerunners

Forerunners is a dynamic, personal development program to help the Tuscaloosa County area youth reach their full potential.

The effectiveness of personal involvement in the future development and progress of the Tuscaloosa County community can be enhanced through increased knowledge of the area's economic, social, historical and political issues and needs. It is the intent of Forerunners to provide a foundation of such knowledge that potential leaders can use to aid their involvement and success in community endeavors.

Our goal is to make each selected participant more aware of and sensitive to the wide range of needs and opportunities in the community through shared experiences with a cross section of highly capable fellow citizens.

The objective of Forerunners is to help meet the community's need for informed, responsible and effective leadership. The Forerunners program is designed to:

  • Inform participants about the area's assets, needs and potential in several major areas. This will be accomplished through contact with local, state and national leaders who will offer information and thoughtful analysis of the study topics.
  • Stimulate the interest and awareness of participants in the program area and encourage a team approach to
  • solving community problems. From such an approach will come the knowledge that responsible and responsive leadership is created through the efforts of citizens who often have differences of opinion and diverse views.
  • Improve participants understanding of their individual leadership roles as well as the diversity of leadership styles and skills required in solving complex community problems.
  • Develop and expand the participants' capacity to communicate and interact with one another, community leaders and fellow citizens; and to form a network of cooperative community involvement.

 

Contact:Alicia Gregory
Senior Director of Programs and Operations
(205) 391-0555 | alicia@westalabamachamber.com