Leadership Greensboro – a program that falls under the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce – welcomed the new class of 2022 as that program kicks off its latest attempt to forge community leaders of the future.

 The 45 participants will work under a new facilitator this year – Dr. Tonya Hargett, who’s currently the director of research compliance and ethics and research integrity officer at NC A&T State University.

Hargett knows a thing or two about Leadership Greensboro because she’s a 2016 graduate of the program.

Tracy Myers, the executive vice president of member engagement for the Greensboro Chamber, said in a Wednesday, Sept. 22 press release that the chamber is delighted to have Hargett on board.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Hargett as our facilitator for Leadership Greensboro,” Myers said. “Her expertise and her experience in the program provide her with a unique perspective that is sure to benefit our participants.”

The new class of leaders from across Greensboro will go through two days of orientation and team building this week and will then have regular program days until May of next year.

The three-part course takes nine months to complete.  During that time, the students will attend a retreat with the Center for Creative Leadership that offers “customized, innovative curriculum and executive coaching sessions.”

The purpose of the program is to provide the city with “an ongoing source of diverse leaders who are committed to serving as catalysts and sustainers of positive change for the quality of life in the greater Greensboro area.”

  Every year, Leadership Greensboro classes culminate with participants pitching projects that solve a particular problem facing the city.  (This year, they have plenty of problems to pick from.)

Some of well known projects in Greensboro started from the program.  Those include the Greensboro Children’s Museum, the Guilford Education Alliance’s Teacher Supply Warehouse and the Guilford Nonprofit Consortium.

Due to COVID-19, this year’s class will use a new program model that includes virtual program days, self-directed and asynchronous activities and small group social opportunities.

This week, Leadership Greensboro’s two-day retreat is being held at Camp Weaver.