Gulf Coast Leadership Institute is a leadership development program designed to identify and train aspiring, emerging, and experienced leaders who reflect the diversity of our community. Following the success of the Foundation's North Port Leadership Institute, which graduated two tight-knit classes of community leaders who continue to work together for the long-term benefit of North Port, the Foundation has opened up a new Leadership Institute class to our entire Gulf Coast region.

A class of up to 25 people will be selected to participate in this high-quality leadership training provided by the nationally recognized Fanning Institute of the University of Georgia. Participants will meet for seven sessions from May to July 2008, and through experiential small and large group activities they will have the opportunity to become knowledgeable, skilled, and action-oriented leaders.

The application deadline for Gulf Coast Leadership Institute has passed. Applicants will be notified of their status by April 11.

To learh more about Gulf Coast Leadership Institute, click here to download an overview of the initiative.

About the Foundation's North Port Leadership Institute

Gulf Coast Leadership Institute was created and funded by the Foundation in response to overwhelming interest following our successful North Port Leadership Institute. The inaugural class of North Port Leadership Institute began their training on September 15, 2006, and graduated on December 15. The second class entered the program in February 2007 and graduated on May 11. The two classes are now holding alumni sessions and working together to apply their newly gained skills and utilize their new leadership network to best serve the North Port community.

Here are some photos from the opening retreat of the inaugural class of North Port Leadership Institute: