The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Live HealthSmart Alabama initiative has launched a new development program, the Community Leadership Academy (CLA).
Using a gift from Coca-Cola UNITED, Live HealthSmart Alabama—and subject matter experts Kathy Boswell and Valeta Neal—created a custom leadership curriculum.
The academy provides a forum where knowledge and skills are developed and refined to support community leaders as they conduct planning and improvement projects, balance needs and resources, and secure funding that ignites change.
Participants currently enrolled in the program extend through Birmingham’s Bush Hills, East Lake, Kingston, Titusville, Druid Hills, North Birmingham, Norwood, and Smithfield communities. The initial participants were nominated by community leaders and partners. Selected residents were chosen for their immense potential to drive impactful, sustainable change in their neighborhood.
During the orientation session, held in early October, participants were welcomed
Community Leadership Academy Logo to the CLA with a video message from Coca-Cola UNITED’s Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Hafiz F. Chandiwala and Mona Fouad, MD, MPH, Live HealthSmart Alabama’s CEO. After learning more about what the coming months have in store for them, participants had the opportunity for professional headshots and networking.
Over the course of 10 biweekly sessions, the Community Leadership Academy will teach the group skills in understanding personal strengths, building a budget, facilitating a meeting, speaking to large groups, conflict resolution, team building, and more.
At the end of the program, graduates will have identified an issue in their community—as it relates to one of Live HealthSmart Alabama’s signature keys: prevention and wellness, education, good nutrition, and physical activity. They will have identified potential barriers and assets and developed a fundable and actionable plan. Leaders who succeed will have access to mini-grants to help provide some of the resources needed for implementation.
Operations Director for Live HealthSmart Alabama, Lemeshia Chambers, Ph.D., MSW, and primary driver behind the CLA explains, “The Community Leadership Academy is a crucial component of our mission to make good health simple for all Alabamians.”
“In every area we work in, we meet with residents to better understand the needs, wants, and hopes for the future of that community. With the leadership academy, we are creating a grassroots network of leaders who will work alongside us to bring about systemic change,” she added.
