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Gulf Coast Youth Leadership
Program
Recognizing the need to develop and support leadership of the youth of the
Gulf Coast - the decision makers of tomorrow - Mississippi Gulf Coast Community
College in conjunction with the local chambers and high schools has designed a
Youth Leadership Program. The Gulf Coast Youth Leadership Program was designed
from the basic principles of the adult leadership programs operating in the
coastal counties and at the state level. Developed as an ongoing program, Youth
Leadership incorporates a value-based program of personal development, choices
and responsibilities, with a sense of community, achieving results and
accountability.
Purpose of Gulf Coast
Youth Leadership Program
The purpose of the Gulf Coast Youth Leadership Program is to develop high
school students into leaders who are informed, motivated, and committed to
working toward an improved quality of life. The goal of the program is to
identify and help develop youth with leadership skills and an in-depth knowledge
of the Gulf Coast community.
The Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College District Workforce Council
recognized the importance of developing future leaders and included the
expansion of the youth leadership program in the annual Workforce Educational
Services Strategic Plan. Industry/business leaders play a major role in the
Youth Leadership program through presentations to the youth, conducting field
trips to company/plan sites and as mentor advisors for the youth's individual
projects.
Curriculum Content
Topics in the year-long curriculum include:
- Personal Development: goal setting, career exploration, self
awareness and responsibility, attitude, ethics
- Government: state and local government, legal system, voting, and
individual's responsibility for government
- Community: sense of community, the important role of supporting
community, safety, quality of life, cultural awareness, environment, history
- Business/Industry/Economic Development: why economic development,
the impact of business/industry on the Gulf Coast, free enterprise, an
individual's influence on the economy (consumerism), the workforce
- Education, Art and Humanities: impact on quality of life, what the
Coast has to offer, historical significance of coastal development
- Core Values and Skills: group procedures and effective teams,
respect for individuals, problem solving, critical thinking, decision
making, public speaking
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