Representatives of Project 17, an economic development initiative spanning 17 counties in southeast Kansas and spearheaded by the region’s four state senators, spent a few hours this morning making their case for $1 million worth of leadership training from the Kansas Leadership Center.
Project 17 is one of seven finalists vying for a grant from the KLC, a nonprofit helping people, communities and other nonprofits throughout Kansas foster civic leadership through various leadership development programs. The seven finalists were from a list of more than 100 prospective organizations that showed interest in KLC’s program.
Representatives from each group were in Wichita today and Wednesday for an informal interview with KLC President Ed O’Malley and other KLC officials.
Other finalists are:
— The Kansas Department of Education Kansas Association of School Boards/ESSDACK – Interested in improving graduation rates statewide.
— USD 259/260 — Wichita and Derby school districts interested in creating and implementing a new model for the 21st century high school, designed to have larger numbers of graduates prepared for college or careers.
— Kansas Action for Children — Interested in reducing infant mortality statewide.
— Dodge City Community College — Interested in working more collaboratively in its region to improve the quality of life and economy of southwest Kansas.
— Lawrence Public Schools/United Way of Douglas County — Interested in increasing high school graduation rates.
— Visioneering Wichita Health Alliance — Interested in improving the health and quality of life of citizens using identified priorities of the alliance.
Check The Weekender for in depth coverage of Project 17 and the day spent in Wichita.
