Vision
For Sarasota & Manatee Counties to be a community where
new voices have an opportunity to be heard

• 2008 GLI Fellows: 9 participants
• 4 from Manatee County; 5 from Sarasota County
• Program began: January 29, 2008 with the Welcome Dinner.
• Program ends: December 11, 2008 with the Graduation Ceremony
• Group meetings are 2-3 sessions per month on evenings or weekends and include: leadership workshops on Saturdays, networking sessions on Tuesday evenings, community project meetings and mentor meetings.

Unique Features of our Program:

• GLI is designed to provide skills and connections for the Fellows to work for positive social change in their communities.
• The population of citizens. Participants who are not in traditional positions of leadership but have demonstrated a commitment to this community by using their time and talents to serve. Their leadership development is based on commitment to community.
• Leadership workshops. GLI Fellows will develop essential leadership skills they may not have opportunity to attain through employment or volunteer opportunities. The monthly workshops give an overview of our community, address individual growth as a leader and organizational skills for effective community work.
• Mentor relationship with a proven local leader. We are providing the opportunity to be mentored by inspiring and proven leaders. The GLI Mentors provide the bridging link between the GLI Fellow, workshops, and the resources needed for the progress of essential leadership skills to become an effective grassroots leader and spokesperson in their community.
• Access to existing leadership through networking. Monthly networking sessions with local decision makers and their organizations which offers an opportunity to build bridges, share ideas and learn for experienced local leaders in business, government, non-profit organizations and others areas.
• Cost to participants: NONE

• Hon. Fredd Atkins, City of Sarasota
• Nickie Brown, 2006 GLI Alumna
• Natalia Cava, 2007 GLI Alumna
• Jim Delgado, Atty. , Kallins, Little, Delgado & Opstal
• E. Keith DuBose, Matthews, Eastmoore, Hardy, Crauwels & Garcia, P.A.
• Tim Dutton, SCOPE
• Dr. Peter French
• Nicole Martin, 2006 GLI Alumna
• Diane McFarlin, Herald-Tribune Media Group
• Hon. Elliott Metcalfe, Public Defender for the Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Florida
• Tracy O'Neil, Kerkering Barbario & Co., P.A.
• Thomas Tryon, Herald-Tribune Media Group
• Alex Young, United Way of Sarasota County

• Kathy Baylis, Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County
• Commissioner Gwendolyn Brown, Manatee County Government
• Denise Blondo, Better Choices in Training & Marketing
• David Bullock, Sarasota County Government
• Catherine Clouse-Ferrar, SCOPE
• Tim Dutton, SCOPE
• Larry Face, Next Level Achievement
• Dr. Peter French
• Miles Gentry, Manatee County Government
• Dr. Willie Holley, Holley Marketing & Management Services
• Dr. Robert E. Lee, Professor of Public Administration at Florida State University
• Joan Lowery, Lowery Communications
• Hon. Elliot Metcalfe, Public Defender of the 12th Circuit Judicial Court
• Joe Naroditsky, FUSE
• Pathfinders, Inc.
• Elena Pell, Equilibria
• Shelley Robertson, Robertson Consulting Group
• Bruce Rodgers, The Hermitage
• DeWanda Smith-Soeder, Smith-Soeder Enterprises, Inc.
• Deb Sutton, HR Pro
• Tom Tryon, Herald-Tribune Media Group
• David Voss, Voss & Associates
• Tom Waters, Community Foundation of Sarasota County
• Patricia Wallington, CIO Associates
• Webster University
• Carl Weinrich, Sarasota Family YMCA, Inc.
• Alex Young, United Way of Sarasota County

Workshop Topics:

• Community & Leadership
• Local Government & Civic Engagement
• Relationship Building & Diplomacy
• Citizenship
• Public Speaking
• Mission & Vision
• Networking & Communications
• Team Building & Motivation
• Meeting Facilitation & Conflict Resolution
• Data Collection, Measurement & Analysis
• Strategic Planning
• Fundraising
• Media & Informing the Community