Leadership Alabama

“Connecting Engaged Leaders and Establishing Lasting Relationships”

Uniti Fiber of Mobile & Project Horseshoe Farm of Greensboro

In October 2021 during the opening retreat in Montgomery for LA Class XXXI, Dr. John Dorsey (LA Class XXI), founder and executive director of Project Horseshoe Farm in Greensboro, AL, presented “Building on the Strengths of Rural Alabama – Project Horseshoe Farm.”  He shared the remarkable story of his circuitous path to Alabama and how he “landed” in Greensboro, where he was met by an extremely impoverished yet welcoming community.  After immersing himself in the local communities in order to fully understand the depth of the challenges, he established Project Horseshoe Farm (PHF), a nonprofit that focuses on providing services in four key areas – Health Partner Programs, Youth Programs, Community Center Programs, and Housing Programs and Nursing Homes.  By partnering with a myriad of organizations, businesses, schools, colleges & universities, and churches, the PHF staff and its remarkable team of PHF fellows, all chosen through a very selective and competitive process, personally interface and provide individual support to the many citizens who are desperately in need of assistance.

After John spoke, he introduced the site director of the Marion, AL location and five PHF fellows, all recent college graduates who chose to spend two years in rural Alabama working with an organization that is changing lives, improving living conditions, assisting with health issues and providing young students rewarding opportunities. The class was enthralled by everything that PHF had been able to accomplish in such a disadvantaged area of our state and asked a myriad of questions. One class member especially intrigued by PHF’s mission and outcomes was Cathy De La Garza, SVP and chief development officer at Uniti in Mobile.

Once Cathy returned to her office, she contacted John about the possibility of volunteers from Uniti performing service work Greensboro with PHF.  As John shared at the time, “It was a wonderful surprise and an incredible blessing.” In spring of 2022, the Uniti team traveled to rural Alabama and had a great workday filled with energy, fellowship and of “getting things done.”  As Cathy expressed, “Uniti was thrilled to be involved with PHF, a truly amazing organization.”  Through funding and relationships, in addition to a passionate, committed team of professionals and caring fellows, PHF continues to achieve remarkable milestones as it continually focuses on the immediate and long-term needs/objectives of those it serves.  A financial gift from Uniti helped fund positions for two fellows.

In November 2023, Uniti hosted PHF and the new class of fellows at Uniti’s office in Mobile.  Cathy was honored to present PHF with a $15,000 check in additional support of its work in and for Alabama’s rural communities.

Please click on the buttons below for the video footage from the workday in Greensboro and the PHF visit to Uniti.

Uniti in the Community AT PHF in Greensboro

PHF Fellows visit Uniti in Mobile

 

Nominations for LA Class XXXIV

(Program Year – October 2024 through May 2025)

Nominations for Leadership Alabama Class XXXIV will open on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, and close on Friday, February 23, 2024, so be sure to watch for future reminders as January nears and start thinking about qualified candidates who you would like to submit for consideration.  All program information – dates, program overview, cost, online application – will be sent via a Constant Contact email on January 16.

 

2023 – 2024 Leadership Alabama

Membership Dues & Contributions

As in recent years, your support this year has been absolutely amazing, and we are extremely grateful for your dues and contributions!  As of today —

270 members have paid membership dues of $175, with 122 members making an additional contribution.

96 of those making an additional contribution are Gold Circle donors, contributing $500 or more.   (Click here to see the list of Gold Circle donors.)  

For those who haven’t had a chance to do so, we humbly ask you to submit your annual dues of only $175 for this fiscal year, July 2023 – June 2024.  You can make an immediate and secure payment online by utilizing the “pay online” button below.  Or, if you prefer a printed invoice for mailing a check, please click the invoice button.  Simply print and mail with your check to Leadership Alabama, P.O. Box 131394, Birmingham, AL 35213.

Click to pay online.

Click to print an invoice.

Leadership Alabama’s Corporate Supporters

Just as membership dues and contributions are critical to the ongoing success and growth of Leadership Alabama, gifts from corporations and foundations are essential to every aspect of the organization.  It is our honor to salute their steadfast investment in LA’s mission and objectives.

Click to see our corporate donors. 

Join LA Class XXXIII at the Field Trip to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians Community

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Poarch Creek Reservation, Atmore

Once again before the Mobile retreat in January, we have a special and optional “field trip” opportunity to stop in Atmore and visit the Poarch Band of Creek Indians community on Wednesday, January 10, 2024.  Tribal Chief Stephanie Bryan (LA Class XXVIII), Vice Chair Robbie McGhee (LA Class XXX), Tribal Council Member Keith Martin (LA Class XXXI) and Attorney General Lori Stinson (LA Class XXXII) invite you to hear about what’s happening with the tribe and its many business ventures.  The afternoon will include a special welcome and cultural performance, tour of the Poarch Creek community and reservation and a tour of Muskogee Technology.  The program will begin at 1:00 p.m. and conclude at 5:00 p.m., and we would be thrilled for you to join Class XXXIII and us for this engaging and fun afternoon. Watch for more details and sign up information to come soon!

Statewide Regional Councils

to Host Regional Events in 2024

Save the Date – Birmingham Area Members!

The Birmingham Regional Council, chaired by Donna Smith (LA Class XXVIII) and Kennon Walthall (LA Class XXV), in partnership with Leadership Birmingham, will soon send details about an event on Thursday, January 18, 2024 featuring Mr. Ron Blatman, executive producer of “Saving the City: Remaking the American Metropolis” documentary series.  Be sure to watch for updates and registration information in the next few weeks.

Leadership Alabama is comprised of nine regional councils – Birmingham, Cullman/North Central, Decatur, Huntsville/Northeast Alabama, Mobile/Baldwin County, Montgomery, the Shoals, Tuscaloosa/West Alabama and the Wiregrass –  throughout the state, and each plays an integral part in many aspects of LA’s programming and class selections.  We’re excited to launch the Auburn/East Alabama Regional Council in the coming weeks!

Additionally, they represent LA in their respective communities by hosting regional events and informational sessions (in conjunction with the LA office).  In 2024, each is planning to facilitate an event for area members in order to learn about and discuss a current topic(s) relative to Alabama, so be watching for future announcements.

Click to see our Regional Councils.

Note these Important Dates, especially the

Area Membership Events with LA Class XXXIII!

January 2024

• Thursday, January 11 – LA Board of Directors Meeting – Mobile
• Thursday, January 11 – Area Membership Dinner w/LA Class XXXIII – Mobile
• Thursday, January 11 – Saturday, January 13 – LA Class XXXIII Retreat – Mobile
• Tuesday, January 16 – Nominations open for LA Class XXXIV

February 2024

• Thursday, February 8 – Friday, February 9 – ALI Class VI Session – Dothan
• Friday, February 23 – Nominations close for LA Class XXXIV

March 2024

• Wednesday, March 6 – LA Board of Directors Meeting – Huntsville
• Thursday, March 7 – Saturday, March 9 – LA Class XXXIII Retreat – Huntsville
• Friday, March 8 – Area Membership Dinner w/LA Class XXXIII – Huntsville

April 2024

• Wednesday, April 24 – Thursday, April 25 – ALI Class VI Session – Birmingham

May 2024

• Wednesday, May 1 – LA Board of Directors Meeting – Birmingham
• Wednesday, May 1 – Area Membership Reception w/LA Class XXXIII – Hoover
• Thursday, May 2 – Saturday, May 4 – LA Class XXXIII Retreat – Birmingham

Bidding Farewell to Melissa Sherer

Leadership Alabama offers a heartfelt adieu! to Melissa Sherer as she rejoins her previous employer, Birmingham District Attorney Danny Carr, to expand upon and manage the work she originally implemented for his office.  She has been a wonderful addition to the team, and we will miss her positive spirit and “can do” attitude with everything she tackled.  However, we certainly understand her desire to oversee and nourish the programs that she created to address juvenile justice reform for Jefferson County, and we wish her every success on her journey.

 

What’s new with you?

Moving forward, it is our hope to share great news/updates/announcements about Leadership Alabama’s incredible members – YOU – but we need your help to do it.  Please send us news about career changes, promotions, honors, recognitions, deaths, etc. so that we can include it in future newsletters.  Simply email to Ashley Kaplan, ashley@leadershipal.org or Kate Cotton, kcotton@leadershipal.org

 

We look forward to hearing from you!

Ashley and Kate