Front L-R: Dr. Ching-Ling Tai, Anne Rynearson, Director of Cross Cultural Services, International Institute.
Back L-R: Terry Jones, Professor of Political Science, UM-St. Louis, Chris Chadwick, Executive Director, Focus St. Louis, Anna Crosslin, President and CEO, International Institute of Metropolitan St. Louis.
Have you ever wondered why some people become leaders and others
followers? The Leadership St. Louis program is one of the most highly
respected programs offered in the St. Louis region. It was founded 25
years ago with the sponsorship of Danforth Foundation. Now this program
is administrated by Focus St.
Louis. About 60 local leaders and potential leaders give up their weekends to enroll in a 9-month program, from
September to May, for full-day sessions on Friday and Saturday once a
month to explore critical issues. Topics include economic development,
education, racism, poverty and social services, power and politics, the
criminal justice system, etc. The format ranges from seminars, on-site
visits, meeting with political and community leaders, and even overnight
retreats.
The topic for January was racism that brought the International Institute
to be the focal point. The International Institute annually assists
countless newcomers from various nations to settle down and to become
productive citizens. In order to appreciate the New American experience,
participants were given an overview of the challenge in working with
immigrants at the site of the International Institute on Saturday, January
12. In order to better understand the difficulty in communicating across
the language barrier, they have to learn a new language in 45 minutes!
To understand the difference between refugees and immigrants and their
experiences, 5 different ethnic community leaders were invited to give a
brief background of their respective communities and their personal
experiences. Dr. Ching-ling Tai represented the Chinese American
community along with representatives from the Hispanic, Croatian,
Ethiopian and Laotian communities. In pursuing the aftermath of the
September 11 attack, the group was even given a briefing on diversity in
Islam and Islam in St. Louis.
Richard Meyers, Executive Director of the Fair Saint Louis, considered the
experienced to be very educational and interesting, and especially
meaningful because Fair Saint Louis will launch an International Village
at the July 4th celebration, 2002. Another participant, Eric Miller
echoed similar comments about the program. Miller is
from the St. Louis Zoo and has worked years with Chinese zoologists on panda research
projects. More than 1300 leaders have graduated from this program,
including Anna Crosslin, the President and Executive Director of the
International Institute, 15 years ago.
Chris Charwick, Executive Director of Focus St. Louis, stated that Focus St. Louis
is now accepting nominations of emerging and established
leaders from all segments of the community for the program of 2002-2003.
Chris Chadwick stated that admission is very competitive, and finalists
must have a mandatory interview with the Leadership St. Louis alumni.
Nominees may submit applications until March. For more information,
please contact Jim Eye, program coordinator, at (314) 622-1250 x 115.
Focus St. Louis also offers many other programs, such as Community
Leadership for Teachers, Youth Leadership St. Louis, and many other
special events. Interested parties should visit their website
www.focus-stl.org. for more information. 
Focus St. Louis leadership training at International Institute |
