Members of this year’s Leadership Johnson County Signature Program work together during a group activity at its November meeting. The Signature Program teaches members of the community about different facets of the county, from local government to agritourism to nonprofits. Applications are being accepted through March 6 for the 2024-2025 class.
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Throughout Johnson County, the next generation of local leaders are hard at work changing lives.
They’re helping connect young people in need with mentors to provide guidance and friendship. Some are collecting supplies to help seniors struggling with food, while others are ensuring foster children and the families who take them in have the clothes and supplies.
Initiatives aim to collect diapers for babies in need, organize a 5K in celebration of the upcoming solar eclipse and put together a gala event for local nonprofit leaders.
With each project, area residents not only have created something to benefit the community. At the same time, they’re strengthening the skills that will help them lead their businesses and organizations in the future.
For nearly 30 years, participants in Leadership Johnson County’s Signature Program have spent hours honing their abilities to lead. The 47 members of the class have spent the past six months learning about different facets of the county, from local government to agritourism to nonprofits.
Tying it all together are the group projects to benefit different organizations and causes.
“At a time when people feel a little overwhelmed that contributes to a sense of apathy, I’m grateful for an organization like (Leadership Johnson County) that makes people believe that together, we can enact change and make things better,” said Matt Giebler, senior pastor at Greenwood Christian Church, and nominations and selections chair for Leadership Johnson County.
Since it was founded in 1995, Leadership Johnson County has trained nearly 1,000 local residents to be better leaders and contributors to the local community.
The organization was born after area residents expressed concerns about the direction local agencies, businesses and government would go in the future. Duke Energy, known at the time as Cinergy/PSI, conducted a survey to gauge public opinion about the future of leadership in Johnson County. People wondered who would fill future volunteer vacancies and board leadership positions as the current generation of community leaders grew older.
They were also worried that those leaders might not be qualified to lead and serve. Taking those concerns to heart, Duke Energy and Franklin College formed a leadership program for the county.
Leadership Johnson County’s Signature Program was born.
Those accepted to the program meet once a month, and each class asks students to focus on a different aspect of leadership. Organizers try to split the curriculum into two parts: leadership skill enhancement and community awareness. Specific days of the class are divided into categories: media, infrastructure and agriculture, for example.
“It’s all about helping citizens who live or work in Johnson County have a better appreciation for the infrastructure of our county, to network and build relationships with people from other areas of our society,” Giebler said. “And it’s an opportunity to grow in their own leadership capacity.”
Sara Copp is a member of this year’s class. She has only lived in the area for three years, and as a small business owner, she wanted to forge a greater connection within the county. When she was nominated to take part in Leadership Johnson County, and learned more about it, she decided to take part.
The different aspects of the program have been an eye-opening experience for Copp.
“For me, it’s been so great getting to know more about Johnson County and know all the ins-and-outs. I’ve loved learning about the history and the infrastructure and how the government works,” she said.
But more than just educating her about the county, the program has allowed Copp to become part of a larger network of leaders in all areas of society.
“What I’ve found is the community and the family of Leadership Johnson County is so deep and big,” she said. “It’s wild how much it has woven through Johnson County.”
The centerpiece of the Signature program is the group project. In the first month, participants break off into small groups, with each team required to envision and enact a project that would benefit the community.
“The projects allow the participants to implement the things that are being talked about — everything from running effective meetings to collaborating with different people you don’t see eye-to-eye with on everything,” Giebler said. “It’s really a neat opportunity to do some things in a theoretical sense but then actually put that to use.”
The projects this year touch different segments of the county, but all are united in the effort to improve the lives of local residents.
One group, Run for the Sun, is organizing a 5K race to correspond with the Eclipse Festival planned in Franklin for April 6. Another is putting together the Glitter and Gratitude Gala — a special event showing appreciation for the leaders of nonprofits throughout the community.
Big for JoCo is spearheading an awareness campaign for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana, hoping to work with local businesses to enlist mentors for kids in need. Share the Love has already gathered grocery bags filled with non-perishable food items, hygiene necessities and gift cards for Johnson County Senior Services. Bottoms Up is an effort to collect diapers and wipes for the Indiana Diaper Source and Baby Boutique
Legacy of Hope is aimed at refurbishing a shipping container into an area of storage for Resources of Hope, a nonprofit group aiding foster and kinship families with clothing, beds, equipment and more.
“What we found is, they really needed space. We acquired a shipping container for them, and we’re building them shelves, creating a space they can grow with and, with any extra stuff they get, they can put in containers and store,” said Copp, who’s a member of the group. “If they ever move from their location, the container can move with them.”
The organization has grown to include special workshops and seminars held throughout the year, focusing on management, women in leadership positions and the power of innovation.
A recent addition to the Leadership Johnson County program is a Youth Leadership Academy. Founded in 2019, the five-month program is designed to bring together a select group of county high school students to learn more about their community and practice leadership skills.
“It really helps students realize that they are leaders, even in this stage in their life. There’s a real benefit in them taking advantage of a leadership program such as ours,” said Brent Lollar, executive manager at Cummins and part of the Youth Leadership Academy task force. “Ultimately, we’re trying to help them grow into resourceful, dependable individuals, and prepare them for a lifetime of service and success.”
For Indian Creek High School junior Mattie Key, the youth academy was an opportunity to sharpen her skills as a leader. Her brother had gone through the program in 2020, and he vouched for the value of it.
“Just hearing him talk about it, and being able to learn about the character traits of being a leader in your community, being a leader in your school, being a leader in the real world — that sounded like something I’d be interested in,” she said.
Class members have met five times, including an opening retreat last summer, and have learned a variety of skills. They’ve met with different community leaders, including mayors of Franklin and Greenwood, business owners, and heads of organizations to see leadership in practice.
Ezra Henry, a senior at Franklin Community High School, said the experience has been an opportunity to collaborate with students from schools all over the county and build interpersonal skills while working together on projects.
“It’s worth your time. The program days help you build a lot of uncommon skills that you’ll use in your everyday life, but aren’t necessarily taught in the classroom,” he said.
AT A GLANCE
Leadership Johnson County Signature Program
What: A nine-month community leadership program that focuses on objectives such as learning more about the community, putting leadership in practice, building networks and putting together community-minded projects.
When: Applications are now being accepted for the next class, which starts in September 2024 and lasts through May 2025
Who can apply: Any resident of Johnson County age 18 and older may apply to participate. Non-residents may also apply, provided they have worked or have been active in the county at least two years immediately before the application time.
Cost: $1,750 for the program. Applications are due electronically by midnight March 7.
How to apply: Visit leadershipjohnsoncounty.org/signature-program
More information: Contact Tandy Shuck at [email protected] or 317-796-6458.
AT A GLANCE
Leadership Johnson County Youth Leadership Academy
What: A five-month program designed to bring together a select group of Johnson County high school students to learn more about their community and practice leadership skills in a fun learning environment.
When: Applications are now being accepted for the next class, which starts in July 2024 with an opening retreat and lasts through April 2025.
Who can apply: Applicants must be a sophomore or junior at the time of application completion. Class members must commit to full participation in the program, and must be a resident of Johnson County or attend a high school located in Johnson County.
Cost: $400 for the program. Applications are due electronically by midnight March 10.
How to apply: Visit leadershipjohnsoncounty.org/youth-leadership-academy
More information: Contact Tandy Shuck at [email protected] or 317-796-6458.
