The local chapter of the Mississippi Federation of Woman’s Clubs Juniorette Diamonds will host a community leadership workshop (CleW) for ninth grade students on Saturday.

The workshop is being held in partnership with the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) and aims to create a community of young leaders who will dedicate their lives toward leadership, innovation and service. The workshop will be held April 21 at the Senior Center of South Pearl River County from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Picayune Civic Women’s Club Public Relations Chair Darlene Adams, said a leadership conference is held annually in Jackson. However, only one 10th grader from each school gets a chance to participate.

Adams said because very few students get the opportunity to participate in the conference, this workshop will give younger Pearl River County students a chance to receive the lessons shared in Jackson.

This will be the first community leadership workshop to be held in the state, and a total of 25 students from Picayune Memorial High School and Pearl River Central High School have been selected by their schools to participate, Adams said.

The event will feature a number of speakers including Congressman Steven Palazzo, Mississippi State Representative for District 108 Stacey Wilkes, Pearl River County Chancery Clerk Melinda Bowman, Pearl River Central High School Principal Stacey Baudoin, Dr. Keith Warden from First Baptist Church of Picayune, Rod Lincoln from PRC Partners in Leadership and Pam Cross from Mississippi Child Protection Services.   

The goal of the workshop is to develop each student’s leadership and professional skills while motivating them to set future goals, Adams said.

At the end of the workshop, the students will be challenged to participate in a service project that involves collecting backpacks for foster children.

“We are excited that Pearl River County is putting CLeW on the map, leading a way for other communities to start this,” Adams said.

Breakfast, lunch and snacks will be served at event.

A few seats are still available for the workshop. Students will need to receive approval from school officials. Applications can be requested at juniorettediamonds@gmail.com .