NEW ORLEANS – The Committee for a Better New Orleans (CBNO) invites future leaders to get involved in the 52nd annual Bryan Bell Metropolitan Leadership Forum.
Established in 1968, the Bryan Bell Metropolitan Leadership Forum (BBMLF) is a challenging and stimulating program aimed at identifying emerging leaders from all sectors of the community and giving them expert inside information about key metropolitan issues, providing exceptional networking opportunities, and stimulating their interest and involvement in community service, CBNO reps said. Graduates are some of the most prominent and active leaders in every aspect of New Orleans life, including Mayor Mitch Landrieu, Senator David Vitter, State Senator Karen Carter Peterson, City Councilmember Jared Brossett, and philanthropist Roger Ogden, to name a few. The class of 2016 will be the 52nd graduating class and will join more than two thousand fellow alumni in serving as a tremendous resource to the community.
“I wouldn’t be as involved in the New Orleans community if it wasn’t for the Leadership Forum,” said Nicole Dillard, BBMLF alumna and CBNO board co-chair. “There is a huge benefit of having this type of program in New Orleans. The Leadership Forum pursues the goals and mission of the Committee for a Better New Orleans by raising awareness for community issues and affecting positive change in current and future leaders.”
The 2016 Leadership Forum begins with the Human Relations session on Wednesday, September 7, and the citywide bus tour on Saturday, September 10, which is designed to give participants an overview of the problems and the opportunities ahead. Additional session topics include Housing, Education, Environment and Coastal Issues, Public Safety, Economic and Workforce Development, Regionalism and Transportation, City Management, Healthcare, and Leadership. Each session is followed by lively question-and-answer sessions that will be sure to push the conversation forward, CBNO reps said. A key feature of the Leadership Forum is the capstone class project where participants design their own community service project focused on education or housing, to experience first-hand the power of volunteerism. Upon completion of the Forum, graduates are connected with organizations that match their interests. Two will also be invited to serve on the CBNO Board of Directors.
“The BBMLF is an excellent venue for new and life-long residents to learn about the issues our city and region are facing and increase their involvement,” said Cedric Scott, chair of the 2016 BBMLF. “We are thrilled for this year’s Forum and look forward to the connections participants will make and adding another class of civicly engaged leaders to our community.”
Nominations for the 2016 Bryan Bell Metropolitan Leadership Forum are now closed.
CBNO reps said their organization works to create equity and opportunity for all New Orleanians by developing community leaders, fostering civic engagement, and advocating for open, effective, accountable government. CBNO will accomplish its mission by providing and maintaining an advocacy role that encourages the kinds of partnership, collaboration and candid conversation that reflect the interests of all the citizens of New Orleans, they said.
