Leadership skills are a necessity in order to move forward as a business or a county. Starting in early August, Pearl River County residents or people who work in the county who wish to improve their leadership skills, gain knowledge of the particulars of local and state communities and volunteer in their communities can apply for the Pearl River County Partners in Leadership program. The deadline to register is July 15 and classroom sizes are limited to 16 people.

The training program is a non-profit, volunteer-based, equal opportunity organization comprised of local leaders. Members must exhibit an interest in expanding their experiences with other potential leaders, according to a release from Partners in Leadership. The program lasts 10-months and is designed to teach participants about their local community as it relates to various topics. They include education, health and social services, leadership skills, government development, environmental importance and law enforcement, said Rod Lincoln, one of the program’s instructors.

Participants will attend classes taught by a variety of volunteer speakers, ranging from some of the most powerful state employees to successful local leaders in Pearl River County, Lincoln said.

“What is great about this program is that we provide a behind the scenes glimpse of what is going on in the participants’ local community, and also how they can help improve it in certain areas. The program is a true eye-opener and provides experiences that cannot be matched. About 80 percent of the volunteer speakers in the program have graduated from it, making them well-experienced in the training aspect and in the real world,” said Lincoln.

Besides the classes, the program involves a two-day retreat to the King’s Arrow Ranch in Hillsdale and a couple of excursions to venues such as NASA’s Stennis Space Center and a tour of the Capital in Jackson.

In order to graduate from Partners in Leadership, Lincoln said participants must contribute and complete a project for the county and attend all the classes, with an exception of missing up to two classes. Some local projects completed by past graduates include the Picayune Splash Pad, a Butterfly Garden at the Arboretum, a playground at PRCC Elementary, and a career day event at Pearl River Central High School, according to a release.

“What we want to accomplish in the program is to help these students on how to become a great leader. Most of them come in with all the skills of a leader, but do not know how to put them together to take that leadership to the next level, so helping them find that connection is one of the great things we do,” said Lincoln.

He also said that the program can help those unsure of their future career path by exposing them to a multitude of opportunities.

For up-to-date information, visit the Facebook page: Leadership Pearl River County. To learn more about Partners in Leadership and obtain an application, visit http://www.leadershipprc.org/