Anyone interested in enrolling in the 2020-2021 Leadership Brownsville class needs to have their applications emailed in by 5 p.m. Friday.
That’s according to Janeth Rico, 2014-2015 Leadership Brownsville alumna and now chairman of the nonprofit organization’s board of a directors at the head of a new executive team. She said the plan is for roughly half the new class to be virtual and, if things improve pandemic-wise, hold the final classes in person if it’s safe to do so. The class consists of nine full-day sessions held each month.
Rico said the enhanced virtual classes mean students will be able to speak directly with the city’s “movers and shakers” who lead the class. As graduates, enrollees will be “part of the solution,” she said. Leadership Brownsville Inc. was founded in 1985. The program gives emerging leaders an insider’s view of what’s happening in the community in terms of business and nonprofits, economic development, government and law enforcement, Rico said. The class can also help participants figure out their talents might best be put to work in service to the community, she said.
“Hundreds of members have gone through our program,” she said.
Enrollees must live and work in the greater Brownsville area, cannot be elected officials at the time of selection and must be at least 18. Spouses cannot enroll in the same class. Applications and complete information about the class are available at Leadership Brownsville’s updated website. The cost of tuition is $450 per person.
“We redesigned our website and it looks awesome,” Rico said. “I encourage anyone who might be interested to know about us to go to our website. If you have any questions we have an option to send us an email to our marketing team.”
She also encouraged people to like Leadership Brownsville’s Facebook page, which is regularly updated, as is the organization’s LinkedIn page. The social media pages and the website also feature complete details about the website and social media pages also contain complete information about the “Believe There is Good in Brownsville” T-shirt fundraising campaign benefitting the Brownsville Wellness Coalition and Good Neighbor Settlement House.
“One-hundred percent of your contribution will go toward one of those nonprofits, and we’re going to be giving out that money throughout the whole year,” Rico said.
Other members of the Leadership Brownsville 2020-2021 executive team are Debbie Rodriguez, vice chairman of curriculum; Lizandro Garcia, treasurer; and Melinda Pinales, secretary.
