Developing and implementing an advanced and dynamic Leadership Program for middle school students formed one of the great recent success stories for Community Cares, Community Does. This program incorporated the school Counselor to ensure coordination with educational curriculum priorities.

The “core” CC, CD Leadership Program constituted the foundation for this enhanced offering. Building upon that, CC,CD added a “project development” component pursuant to which each student joined a Team to conceptualize, and implement, a community project. Such projects ranged from fencing around a lake (solving a hazardous drowning problem) to offering of face masks (helping in the fight against Covid 19). The projects in many ways reflected concepts in adult professional work, including power point presentations presenting and explaining the plan.

A “Shark Tank” feature, where professional leaders from CC,CD gave direct feedback to the students, created an informative and fun environment. Plans for next school year 2021-2022 including further continuing and adding on to this program by among other things scheduling field visits with community organizations and leaders to see leadership skills in action.