Civic Leader, Belfast
Civic Leader – Training for NI Students
Civic Leader is the latest initiative started by a WIP alumnus. Launched in May 2010 by a world renowned leadership and negotiation expert, Professor Keith Allred of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, it aims to train a new generation of young civic leaders in Northern Ireland.
Harvard Professor Keith Allred joins Rachel McCleery, a business studies student from Belfast Metropolitan College and WIP alumnus
Over the next year as many as 200 students from Belfast Metropolitan College could take part in a leadership development program known as ‘Civic Leader’ aimed at enhancing employability skills and opportunities for public service for young people in Northern Ireland. The training has been endorsed by Professor Keith Allred of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, a world expert on leadership and negotiation. The program has been introduced following a successful three month pilot study involving 20 students from Belfast Metropolitan College and funded through the Washington-Ireland Program for Service and Leadership.
Unveiling the new leadership training program Professor Allred said:
“Any opportunity to engage young people to make them more aware of the sort of positive impact they can have on wider society is to be applauded. Northern Ireland is in a unique position as a fledgling democracy to teach the world a lesson of how it has overcome which have seemed to be insurmountable challenges and as it moves forward it will require a new generation of civic leaders to be nurtured and developed. That’s why teaching young people the values of active participation in society is not only good for communities but also develops the sort of skills and proactive attitude that is needed for the local economy.”
Students who take part in the leadership training will be able to gain a number of recognized qualifications including a Certificate of Personal Effectiveness, all of which are designed to enhance students’ ability to secure employment and also to provide the skills required to contribute to the communities in which they live.
Founder of Civic Leader and alumus of the Washington Ireland Program, Chris Johnston based in Belfast who was a student of Professor Allred at the Kennedy School at Harvard said:
“The training will provide basic skills in leadership, communication and teamwork. These are skills that communities require and local employers value. It will also increase knowledge and awareness of ways in which individuals can use their talents to benefit individuals, communities and wider society. It is very important that young people in today’s society understand they have the ability to effect positive change.”
As well as having the backing of foremost leadership expert Professor Allred, the training has received endorsement from the US State Department who funded the pilot program in partnership with the Washington-Ireland Program for Service and Leadership and Corporation Ireland.
Anyone wishing to find out more about Civic Leader can visit: www.civicleader.co.uk
