Duluth residents graduate to L.E.A.D.

Councilwoman Marsha Anderson Bomar thought the appointed and elected officials in Duluth didn't fully represent the citizens of the city anymore, so she did something about it. With the backing of Duluth City Council, she championed L.E.A.D., the Learn, Engage, Advance Duluth Academy.

Those citizens she sought to represent took part in the first class, learning about city operations, services and programs. Tuesday was graduation night held at Parc at Duluth – which was one of the program sponsors.

"Most people don't have a way to learn, so they feel uncomfortable volunteering," she said.

L.E.A.D. was the mechanism she helped provide for residents to get that information.

"So that was my vision, and fortunately, the council really embraced the idea," she said.

From the start, all of council and the city's department heads embraced the idea and were enthusiastic. She worked with Alisa Williams, the city's public information and marketing director, to fine tune the program. Anderson Bomar used her experience in Leadership Gwinnett and the original Leadership Institute to help make the program interactive.

"Maybe somebody will run for city council, ask to be appointed to a board," she said.

"We are looking forward to the next class, and we are looking forward to this class getting involved with the city," she said. "That's the bottom line with all of it."

Mayor Nancy Harris said the challenge the city has to the L.E.A.D. class is to engage.

"You are going to take what you have learned and you are going to engage it for the purpose of advancing Duluth," Harris said.

That's easier said than done, she said.

"What I would advise you is to look at the projects going on in Duluth. If you want to become engaged in Duluth, you need to learn about what is going on in Duluth," the mayor said.

"I learned more about how the city works," said Scott Rose, one of the L.E.A.D. graduates. "I had no idea how involved it really is, the process."

He served as a member of the city's SPLOST committee. He wants to get involved with another committee or board, and thought L.E.A.D. would be a good opportunity to learn about the different types of committees and what goes on in the city, so he can make his choice.

David Marshall, another L.E.A.D. graduate, said he will be an advocate for programs and the city. He'll continue to recommend positive economic activities for the city and its future business partners.

"We must continue to lead our city," Marshall said.

"I've learned so much about importance of how we as citizens and public officials must work together, with a common heritage and future growth," he said.
- www.gwinnettherald.com

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