Mayors Discuss Solutions to Statewide Problems
Michigan mayors from Benton Harbor, Saginaw, Flint, Mount Pleasant and Alma will lead a nonpartisan conversation at Alma College about the ways that communities and local governments are responding to statewide problems.
Alma College’s Center for Responsible Leadership and Public Affairs Institute will host the mayoral summit, “Leading Michigan Forward,” from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 7th in the Dow Science Center Room L-1. Admission is free and open to the public.
The mayors — Wilce Cooke of Benton Harbor, Greg Branch of Saginaw, Dayne Walling of Flint, Jim Holton of Mount Pleasant and Melvin Nyman of Alma — will discuss the immediate and long-term challenges that Michigan’s economic troubles pose for the residents of the state and share the local strategies that are being used to meet those challenges.
Presentations will focus on economic, educational, health and environmental challenges. An open dialogue with the audience will follow the mayors’ presentations.
"The Center for Responsible Leadership students were committed to organizing a leadership forum that will not only inform but inspire members of the community to better understand both the problems and the opportunities that are in front of us,” explains Peggy Thelen, assistant professor of education.
“These dedicated civic leaders are on the front lines of the efforts to actually meet those challenges and make the most of those opportunities," she says. "This forum is a real effort to help lead our own local and regional communities forward.”
Walling of Flint recently worked on President Obama's campaign as regional coordinator and is owner of a company that serves the local community in long term business solutions.
"The forum is an opportunity to see how mayors have given back to their communities and how students and other members of the audience can give back to the community," says Greenville junior Adam Ellsworth, who helped plan the event.
"It should be an example of what real community leadership looks like," says Ellsworth.
Alma College’s Center for Responsible Leadership provides opportunities for students to develop and utilize their individual leadership skills in addressing campus, community, state, national and international issues.
Posted: Thu, April 1st, 2010 at 8:35AM
