What is Leadership Worthington?
Established in 1989, Leadership Worthington is the result of collaborative efforts by:
  • the City of Worthington
  • Worthington Public Schools
  • Worthington Educational Foundation
  • Worthington Area Chamber of Commerce
  • and individuals in the community
L.W. is approaching its 2nd decade as a premier leadership development organization for those who live or work in the Worthington School District. It is a program which enhances the understanding of leadership qualities and the development of individual and group leadership potential in order to create a better Worthington area and community.

Forethought on the part of dedicated citizens in the early 1990's helped to create and develop a leadership program for the Worthington area.

Benefits for participants are designed to be:
  • Increased leadership skills, advancing leadership goals within the community, churches and in the workplace
  • A greater knowledge of the Worthington area, its organizations and its current leaders, along with a network of colleagues to help benefit both the community and the individual
Benefits for the community are designed to be:
  • An increasing group of committed community and workplace leaders. When individual leadership skills are developed, there is a pool that can be tapped for representatives among business, government, school and civic organizations.

 
The adult leadership program is a nine-month program that runs from September through April. Class size is typically around 25 participants. There are approximately 15-16 class sessions held during the nine-month period. These classes are designed to help participants gain a better understanding of their leadership and interpersonal styles, acquire greater knowledge of the Worthington community, and develop their abilities as a leader and as a person through the completion of hands-on class projects.
  • personal leadership skill development
    • persuasive communication styles
    • interpersonal relationship building
    • team-project-management, networking
    • and group problem-solving
  • understanding of municipal issues
  • the school system
  • human services and volunteerism
  • multicultural issues
  • the business community
  • opportunities for undertaking projects to improve the quality of life in Worthington
 
Leadership Tomorrorw inspires young leaders today to care about their community, become involved and enhance communication and leadership skills. Together, we empower the next generation of leaders to actively make a positive difference in our world.

The mission of L.T. is to identify existing and emerging teen leaders and develop their potential for school and civic responsibility, enhance their understanding of leadership issues, and motivate them to work toward resolving these issues for the betterment of the Worthington area community.

Who Should Participate?
  • Students in grades 10, 11 and 12 and who live in the Worthington School District.
  • Students who have leadership abilities and have demonstrated them formally and/or informally.
  • Students who have leadership potential and the desire to develop that potential.
What Leadership Components are Included in the Program?
  • Self-assessment
  • Team building
  • Goal setting, time management, self-esteem
  • Communication and Presentation Preparation
  • Community Service
  • Service Presentations
What are the Enrollment and Attendance Requirements?
  • Students must complete the program application.
  • Students must attend seven (3 hour) sessions. Sessions are held on Sunday afternoons.
  • In addition to the seven class sessions, students must identify a community service opportunity and complete a minimum of two hours of direct service time.
  • Attendance at the first and last sessions are both mandatory. Of the remaining five sessions, a maximum of one session may be missed to qualify for graduation from the program.
  • Students are encouraged to participate in the annual Leadership Worthington Service Day on the first Saturday in May.
  • Class size is limited. Applications will be processed in the order in which they are received.

Who Facilitates the Leadership Sessions?

    Sessions are conducted by professionals from the Worthington and Columbus area. These professionals volunteer to share their experiences and knowledge and to facilitate the application of leadership concepts through discussion, role-play and other activities.

 
Leadership Plus program helps existing and emerging middle school leaders develop their potential for school and civic responsibility, enhance their understanding of leadership skills, and motivate them to work toward using these skills for the betterment of the Worthington area community. Middle school participants can expect individual and professional leadership development training taught by highly-skilled facilitators. They will have an opportunity to experience leadership first-hand and to work on a service learning project which will directly benefit the community. During the academic year there will be a follow-up project. Participants in the Leadership Plus program should expect to obtain the following skills and understandings:
  • Increased self-awareness of individual strengths and leadership qualities
  • Importance of team work in school work and co-curricular activities
  • Problem solving skills
  • Service learning opportunities
  • Time and stress management
 
Testimonials
Service
  • Community Service is an on-going component of the youth programs. Students explore the importance of community involvement by completing the proces of identifying volunteer opportunities, pre-planning, completing service time and presenting the outcomes of their experiences. Students volunteer their time within the school environment as well as throughout the community in areas in which they are motivated to make a difference.
  • Some graduates of the program come back to serve on the Student Advisory Board (SAB). The purpose of the SAB is to provide recommendations as well as hands-on support for the Leadership Tomorrow Program and to serve on a committee of Leadership Worthington Board. SAB members work closely with the Youth Programs Coordinator.
Benefits
  • Feedback from class graduates indicates that those who complete the program get much more out of the experience than they originally expected. They not only grow as a leader, but they grow as a person. They learn about interacting with others, and how some of the lenses through which we view the world can affect the decisions we make. They make new friends, they have fun, and they become part of a special group of people who share a special bond - the bond of successfully completing a rigorous course in leadership development.