Community leadership and “Being your best self”

Published 1:56 pm Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Moody’s Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, held last Thursday, had two speakers from the St. Clair community. Speaking on her new title as Distinguished Young Woman (DYW) of St. Clair County, Lindsey Spruiell told attendees about what it means to “be your best self.” Matthew Pope followed Spruiell with an informative presentation on a program called Leadership St. Clair.

Spruiell began her speech by extending a thank you to the city of Moody for being a supporter of DYW. She went on to say that she became DYW St. Clair by winning the local level. 

Spruiell will be going to Montgomery to compete in the state competition of DYW this January. Some of the categories that Spruiell will need to impress the judges with include: talent, scholastics, self-expression and fitness. The winner of the state DYW will attend the national competition, which will be held in Mobile, Alabama.

Spruiell has spent a lot of time getting involved. She recently partnered with a church in Springville to provide food for a local school. “I hope to start similar programs in all the city’s schools,” said Spruiell. She said she hopes to set an example for the community.

Pope, with Leadership St. Clair, said that young leadership exhibited in people like Spruiell is something that he loves to see and fits in perfectly with the goal of the Leadership retreat that he talked about at the meeting. 

“Every community is only as good as it’s leadership,” said pope as he began his presentation. Leadership St. Clair, according to Pope helps build community leaders. The purpose of the program is to provide leadership knowledge and skills, increase awareness, provide hands-on experience, suggest strategies and expand networks.

This leadership program is done by means of a retreat that provides knowledge with government, safety and justice. Also covered are economic development, education, legislative information as well as infrastructure information and Quality of life. At the end of the program is graduation, and peers vote on two participants to serve in a leadership position.

Pope encourages anyone in the community that is interested in leadership to get involved with the program. 

For more information, visit the website: http://www.stclairedc.com/leadership-st-clair-county/.