Congratulations to Joy Williams (Volunteer & Events Coordinator) and Paige Connell (HR Generalist) who graduated from the Lakeland Economic Development Council’s Summer Leadership Program! SLP connects interns and new hires (ages 21-32) through a 5-week experience focused on team building, leadership development, and community engagement. Here’s what both had to say about SLP:
Joy: “LEDC’s Summer Leadership Program deepened my belief that Lakeland is a place worth planting roots. We were given amazing tours of local businesses, sat through panels filled with many of Lakeland’s entrepreneurs, and given trainings and opportunities to network. My favorite part was our class visiting PSM and hosting a carnival during Summer Camp. I was so proud and happy to show everyone the place I call home.”
Paige: “The biggest thing I learned from SLP is that there is beauty in quiet leadership. I always thought leadership looked like rallying large groups of people or being the CEO of a company, but SLP taught me that leadership can also be leading people one-on-one or coordinating things behind the scenes, and both of those are just as important as leadership you see on the surface.”
Both were honored with the “Ray of Sunshine” superlative in their respective sessions. Way to go, Joy and Paige!
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Parker Street Ministries (PSM) is a 501c3 in Lakeland, Florida, that follows a Gospel-centered model characterized by living, listening, affirming dignity, and building community together in and through the Parker Street neighborhood. Parker Street Ministries is committed to Gospel-centered community development through the focus areas of: Fostering Spiritual Growth so Christ and His Gospel are front and center, Supporting Lifetime Learners through educational opportunities, Stabilizing the Neighborhood by addressing the quality and availability of housing, and Cultivating Connections so gaps in relationships and services are bridged.