Leadership training for Belknap County parents

A leadership training series open to parents who reside in Belknap County will begin on Saturday, October 15 and continue for four additional Saturdays through March 18, 2006. Called the P.A.L.S. Series (Parents As Leaders in Society) and modeled after Leadership New Hampshire and the New Futures Community Leadership Institute, this interactive training provides non-partisan information and skill development for parents interested in the problems and challenges facing children and families in Belknap County.

The P.A.L.S Series, funded in part by a grant from the NH Children’s Trust Fund and by the Belknap County Citizens Council on Children and Families, is sponsored by a collaboration of parents with the Citizens Council, UpStream, Lakes Region United Way and Laconia Project EXTRA.

“We are looking for parents from throughout Belknap County to apply,” says Alan Robichaud, Executive Director of the Citizens Council and the Facilitator of the P.A.L.S. series. “Ideal applicants are those parents who are interested in boosting their leadership abilities and in applying their new skills right in their own neighborhoods and communities.”

Robichaud explains that the long-range goals of the program include building local networks of parents and community citizens who are knowledgeable and comfortable as advocates for children and families.

“Grassroots community activity that comes from the unique strengths of each community is a far more effective change agent than top-down edicts,” continued Robichaud. “We have numerous parents throughout this county who want their communities to be safe places where children and families can thrive. And, these are the folks we hope will enroll,” he says, explaining that applicants don’t have to be “super famous leaders in their communities”, but rather “just regular citizens interested in helping out where they can.”

The P.A.L.S. Series begins on the third Saturday of October with an UpStream–sponsored, parent conference featuring keynote speaker and Harvard Professor Julie Wilson. The afternoon P.A.L.S. session will begin immediately following the conference luncheon break.

Led by more than a dozen of presenters from around the Lakes Region and New Hampshire, the five-session seminar will cover such topics as community-building skills, the political process, family dynamics in the 21st century, communication skills, youth in school-a guidance perspective, available resources for children and families, and leadership skill development. Each participant will be given reading materials to review and small assignments to complete in their communities. Participants will have ample opportunity at every session to share their experiences and reactions as they carry out these tasks.

There are no registration or tuition costs for participants and lunch will be provided. Limited childcare assistance is also available. According to Robichaud, “We do not want any motivated parent to pass up this opportunity because of unmet childcare or transportation needs or due to any reason that we may be able to help resolve.”

Applications and further information can be found at the Council’s website, www.bccj.org, at the Citizens Council office in the Busiel Mill in downtown Laconia, at UpStream’s office at 95 Water Street in Laconia or website www.upstream.org or by calling Kathy Calvin, 2005 PALS Graduate, at 527-9182.