Fri. May 22, 2015
Wisconsin Rapids, Wisc. – May 22, 2015 – For the past nine months, sophomores from Lincoln, Assumption, Nekoosa, John Edwards, and Pittsville high schools learned about the art of leading through Incourage’s South Wood County Teen Leadership program. Increasing involvement in their schools and communities, emerging leaders graduated from the program on May 6.
Through this Incourage program, each class of teen leaders decides, plans, and completes a community project. This year, they chose to collaborate with several local groups and committees to help beautify the Growing Friends Community Garden located on the corner of Spruce Avenue and Hill Street in Wisconsin Rapids. Their project added artwork to the existing Community Garden through artistic landscape and design. The Community Garden will be included in this year’s Garden Walk on July 18.
Working on the community project helped teens put their new skills and techniques in leadership and teamwork to good use.
“Teen Leadership was a great program that I definitely recommend for future sophomores,” said McKenna Smith of John Edwards High School. “I am excited to go out into the world with my new skills and information.”
The 24 area sophomores discovered many opportunities to cultivate leadership skills throughout the year. In addition to the community project, they focused on adaptive leadership through Sean Covey’s book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. The students learned firsthand the importance of building relationships, teamwork, collaboration, and resident engagement. They developed a better understanding of the south Wood County area and began to think about what it can mean to live in a community that works well for all people. During the program, teen leaders spent an afternoon meeting with area leaders at YMCA Camp Alexander, learning about ways to continue their community involvement as adults. This included learning about philanthropy and activities like grant-making.
The graduating teens have many more opportunities ahead of them.
“The Teen Leadership program opens doors for teenagers to get involved in our community,”said Dawn Vruwink of Incourage. “The skills and releationships they have developed will help them pursue their passions.”
Graduating Teen Leaders include:
Teen Leadership graduates would like to extend special thanks to: American Family Insurance-Tom Schneider Agency; Bull’s Eye Credit Union; City of Wisconsin Rapids-Helen’s Zoo House; Family Natural Health Foods; Feldner/Ritchay Funeral Home; Great Expectations; Highland Training & Development; Incourage; McMillan Memorial Library; Nekoosa Area Senior/Community Center; O’Leary Orthodontics; Opportunity Development Centers, Inc.; Paper City Savings Association; Pioneer Bank; Renaissance Learning; Riverview Medical Center; Solarus; University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point; Walker Cranberry Company; Wood County Courthouse; Wood County Criminal Justice Taskforce; YMCA Camp Alexander.
Media Contact:
Jen Perry, Communications
Phone: 715.423.3863
About Incourage
Established in rural Wisconsin in 1994 to serve the changing needs of the south Wood County area, Incourage has become a nationally-recognized leader in place-based philanthropy and community development. Guided by values of equity, opportunity and shared stewardship, Incourage envisions a community that works well for all people. One physical manifestation of this vision is the Tribune, which demonstrates Incourage’s resident-centered approach to growing a strong and inclusive local economy. To learn more, visit incouragecf.org.
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