blog by Maddy Holstein
I have attended numerous recruitment and informational
sessions throughout my college career, none of which compares to the Multicultural
Leadership Program. There was a sense of passion, confidence, and
professionalism with each speaker that left me believing one would gain not
only heightened leadership skills, but also would become a better individual
overall. I am genuinely proud to say I live in a community where this wonderful
program exists.
This was the first experience for me where recruiters of a
program primarily consisted of alumni. Who knows the ins and outs of a program
from the participant perspective better than its graduates? There was a genuine
enthusiasm emitted from each person who spoke that could not have been
scripted. I never once heard anyone voice, “This will be easy” or “This program
is for everyone.” What filled my ears was not a planned speech set to influence
the audience, but instead truthful testimonies, passionate answers, and
friendly remarks. I was also delighted when I found out these graduates, among
others from the program, are still working with it presently as mentors, board
members, or volunteers.
Alumni representing previous classes were present during the
recruitment meeting, allowing the audience to ask questions and gain insight on
the program. Each individual spoke openly and honestly of the program,
promoting it whole heartedly as a transformative experience in his or her life.
Hearing the testimonials from these past graduates projected a sense of
accomplishment over the crowd. As the informational session progressed, the
audience of prospective participants eagerly asked more questions, none of
which were left unanswered. It was admirable to hear how the hard work put into
the program led each person to become a stronger leader, an innovative thinker,
and a better person.
The Multicultural Leadership Program is creating a new group
of leaders each year in our community that exhibit courageous leadership skills
and an innovative, diversely thinking individual. If you are 21 years of age or
older and either live or work in McLean County, I enthusiastically recommend
looking into this program. The time commitment, program objectives, and session
information can be found on the MCLP website. I highly encourage any individual
striving to make a difference in the community and within themselves to become
part of this program.
