November 20, 2020 (Hazard, KY): Caitlin Mason, Public Administrative Specialist, recently graduated from the BRIGHT Kentucky Program. BRIGHT Kentucky is designed to build the capacity of next-generation leaders in the Appalachian region of Kentucky to innovate, collaborate, and advance community and economic development. Participants were involved in five multi-day sessions to fully understand the local economic context and to build robust skill sets in communication, collaboration, consensus building, visioning, and community engagement.
BRIGHT Kentucky, which began in 2019, engages bright, entrepreneurial minds from various occupational sectors to offer non-partisan, ethical leadership training, expanded networks, and mentors designed especially for residents of the 54 Kentucky counties of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). The program is made possible by a $500,000 ARC grant and private funding from the Whitaker Foundation, SOAR, and others.
Pictured with Caitlin is Ms. Janice Way, President of Leadership Kentucky, and Mr. Elmer Whitaker, President of Whitaker Bank. Many thanks to the sponsors and Leadership Kentucky for providing this opportunity for the last two years so that the CVADD can participate.
For more information on BRIGHT, be sure to visit www.leadershipky.org/programs/bright-kentucky-5