• To enhance the leadership skills of exemplary high school students who have demonstrated leadership qualities and concern for their community.
• To acquaint participants with knowledge concerning the needs, opportunities, problems and resources in the Clarksville-Montgomery County area.
• To encourage interest and participation in community and volunteer activities, both at the present time and in the future.

Juniors and seniors who attend public and private schools in the Clarksville-Montgomery county area and who are residents of the area are eligible. Interested students should:

• Demonstrate leadership in school, community, and/or church activities.
• Express an interest in furthering their knowledge of the Clarksville-Montgomery County area.
• Commit to attendance of all sessions. If the Orientation session or two other sessions are missed, the student will be dropped from the program.
• Receive a recommendation and approval from their parents and school to participate in the program.
• Possess an accrued grade point average of 2.75, based on a 4.0 system.

• Request an application form either from your guidance counselor or Youth Leadership Clarksville.
• Complete the application form according to the instructions. You must have the signatures of a parent or guardian and your principal or guidance counselor. The application form requires you to write a ½ page essay in your own handwriting.
• Obtain one reference from a teacher, guidance counselor, or principal; and one from a business or professional person in the community. Forms will be provided for this purpose. Persons providing these references should not be related to you.
• Only students who are rising juniors and seniors will be eligible to participate in the program.
• Applications must be received not later than March 1.

A Selection Committee will choose participants for the program based on interest in learning about leadership, interest in learning about the community, commitment to positive self-growth, and demonstrated leadership ability. The committee will evaluate applicants to determine that participation will not adversely affect future academic work. Selection procedures will include:

• A "blind" review of all applications.
• A review of applications to insure the selection of a class that is balanced with regard to ethnic groups, sex, schools, and interests.
• A personal interview of all finalists. Interviews will be conducted after school at the Chamber of Commerce on a date to be announced.
• Final selection of classes of 20 to 25 participants will be made within two weeks following the personal interviews. All applicants will be notified of the committee's selections in writing.

All candidates selected for the program will be expected to pay a $100 fee to cover expenses. Tuition is not refundable after the class is selected and announced. This fee will cover meals, transportation, and other related costs. Scholarship money is available. The need for financial assistance will not be considered in the selection process. Contact your guidance counselor for additional information concerning these scholarships.

Sponsorship

Youth Leadership Clarksville is sponsored jointly by Austin Peay State University (APSU), Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce, and Leadership Clarksville Alumna.

Programs*

Orientation. Attendance of this session is mandatory. During this one-day program, the students may:

• Study their own leadership and values through self-assessment.
• Participate in-group experiences to learn more about group dynamics.
• Examine the cultural diversity of Clarksville and Montgomery County, discuss the impact of diversity in a changing world, and develop scenarios for leadership in this complex environment.
• Receive a brief on the mayor's 20/20 Study. (this study was conducted in 1990-91 by a panel of local citizens, and it is the basis for follow-up discussions with officials.

Justice and Government. During this one-day session, the students may:

• Visit the detention center and discuss issues related to crime with officials.
• Participate in a group problem solving experience applying leadership principles to issues such as juvenile drug usage, gangs, vandalism, and guns.
• Be provided with overviews of county and city governments by the County Executive and Mayor.
• Address questions regarding the 20/20 Report to a pane of business persons.
• Receive an update on pending state legislation from elected state officials.
• Lunch with city, county, and state elected officials.
• Attend a city council or county commission meeting as an outside assignment.

Health and Environment. During this one-day session, the students may:

• Tour the hospital and health departments, and receive briefs from administrators on technology and services.
• Participate in sessions on topics of special interest, i.e., effects of drugs and alcohol on health, teenage pregnancy, AIDS.
• Tour the water treatment plant and/or waste disposal facilities.
• Participate in a panel discussion with officials and environmental scientists.
• Attend a workshop focusing on the necessity of physical, mental, and spiritual health in the leader.

• Participate in a communication-training workshop.
• Meet with the director of schools for discussions on the school system's Five-Year Plan; projected budgets for personnel, facilities, and programs; and the director's goals for local education.
• Meet with APSU President and student representatives for discussions about higher education.
• Meet with state representatives to discuss the state role in education.
• Visit either the newspaper, a radio station, or cable television, and receive a presentation on the role of the media in the community.
• Attend a performance of the APSU jazz band and participate in a discussion of jazz history.
• Tour the Trahern Art Gallery.
• Take a driving tour of the historical architecture of Clarksville.
• Tour the Roxy Theatre.

• Explore the diversity of religion and religious organizations in the Clarksville Area.
• Participate in discussions pertaining to current health issues; e.g., emergency, crisis, and indigent care; alcohol and drugs; teenage pregnancy; and AIDS.
• Visit service agencies, e.g., United Way, Harriet Cohn, Urban Ministries, Loaves and Fishes, and Progressive Directions, and receive briefs from each of these agencies
• Participate in a panel discussion on family violence.
• Participate in a discussion on the ethics of leadership as it relates to the issues encountered during the day.

• Visit various industries in the Clarksville area, e.g., International Label and Jostens.
• Participate in discussions the local industrial base with business and industrial officials.
• Participate in a discussion with directors of the Chamber of Commerce and the Industrial Development Boards on issues such as small business development (particularly for women and minorities), problems encountered in attracting large industries, economic developments, and the workforce for the year 2000.
• Complete a learning session on effective time management.

• Visit combat and combat support units on Fort Campbell.
• Receive briefs from Fort Campbell officials regarding the installation role in national defense.
• Participate in flight simulation operations, armored vehicle operations, and rappelling instruction.
• Visit the emergency operations center, video teleconferencing facility, communications center, firing range, and messing facilities.

YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM NEIGHBORHOOD STUDY

Our neighborhoods consists of people with different backgrounds, values, and goals for the future, In order to understand more about the people of our community and how they affect its growth and development, you are asked to learn more about our neighborhood communities with regard to their:

• History/Background/Ethnic Origins
  (Other pertinent data)
• Current Information and Statistics
  • Population
  • Racial and ethnic make-up
  • Average income
  • School system residents attend
• Government
  • City or county government
  • Avenues for citizen input and involvement
  • Extent of citizen participation
  • Housing
• Economic Development
  • Kinds of job opportunities
  • Number of jobs
  • Kind of economic development needed, if any
• Arts, Entertainment and Recreation
  • What is and what is not available
  • What do resident do for leisure activities?
• Summary: Problems, Opportunities, Special Features and Future Outlook