ITHACA, N.Y. — The Empire State Food and Agricultural Leadership Institute, or LEAD New York, is pleased to announce that 26 members of its 17th class have successfully completed the “Lead Fellows” portion of the training program. Class members were recognized at a graduation ceremony this past week in Ithaca, NY. The graduation ceremony came at the end of the group’s second year of intensive leadership development experiences, including an international study tour to Kenya in February.
“The Fellows program focuses on ‘thinking globally and acting locally’, including seminars held in Washington DC, Ottawa Canada, and the international study tour. Fellows apply lessons learned to their local community through completion of a local issues leadership assignment.” said Larry Van De Valk, Executive Director of the program. “In the second year, Fellows enhance their level of awareness about complex issues facing the global food system, practice their critical thinking and analysis skills, and develop a global perspective, while putting their leadership skills to practice in service of their local community” he continued.
LEAD New York is a leadership development program for adult professionals in the food, agriculture and natural resource sectors. It consists of seminars, workshops, and field travel experiences both in and out of New York State, including an international study trip. The program focuses on leadership skill development, enhanced self-awareness, civic engagement, a greater understanding of issues facing our food system and rural communities, and cultivating leadership networks. Currently, there are nearly 500 LEAD New York alumni serving in leadership positions in private business, local, state and federal government positions, not-for-profit organizations, and educational institutions.
For more information, contact Larry Van De Valk, Director of LEAD New York at 607-255-7907 or at ljv4@cornell.edu. Additional information is also available on the LEAD New York website at www.leadny.org.
–LEAD New York