Leadership Lowndes

Don’t get caught in a pickle! Sign up before tomorrow to ensure you get a T-shirt!

Game on! Who’s ready for a pickle?

We are so excited to announce our first ever Pickleball Tournament and the team really knocked it out of the court! This event is open to all alumni, current class members, prospective new members, and friends of Leadership Lowndes! We hope to see lots of old and new faces there! Please follow the link to register today!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSMwMNT6hXtFRdmJBGb5q4Xb6QfapIk44jSBl6ZiAmlrV6Aw/viewform

If you’d like to attend the festivities to cheer from the sidelines and enjoy Ella's Top Corral burger bar, you can purchase a “sideline pass” for $20!

https://checkout.square.site/merchant/DCM950RH0NQEY/checkout/RPJGFMWAPSW4P6FPREE66BQ4

It’s sure to be a dill-ightful time for all attendees!

The deadline is fast approaching! August 31st is the cutoff to apply!

Are you interested in joining Leadership Lowndes? Do you know someone today that you think could benefit from a deep dive into our ever-evolving community? As our community grows, so does the importance of programs like Leadership Lowndes. Participation in our program allows for current and future leaders to be better equipped in areas of service, awareness, teamwork, strategic thinking, and communication. By joining the Leadership Lowndes family, our future leaders will have a growing network of support and guidance.

We are excited to announce that in an effort to increase our regional strength and identity, we have opened nominations for people who work in Lowndes County but reside in our surrounding counties! These counties include Brooks, Cook, Berrien, Lanier, and Echols counties. By doing this, we hope to establish Lowndes County as the regional hub for growth and development in South Georgia!

Nominations will remain open through August 31, 2024 and applications will be sent out in September. You can nominate someone or you can nominate yourself! We have many plans and goals already in motion for next year that we are so excited to see but we need your help and continued support. Nominate today by following the link below!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdQZHe8IfxXXC7kj-XvN0q4NX8o02ds2U_a8NKSmrj_nd8Wwg/viewform

Introducing the Youth Class of 2024! These students have shown a commitment to their academic goals and where they live! We are so proud to introduce them to you all!

The future is bright! Last week, our Leadership Lowndes Youth program kicked off with a bang! They will learn so many things about our community in the coming months from health and human services, economic development, to agricultural importance and all about our local government. Help us welcome these shining stars into our community!

Sure to be a great time! Come out and cheer on some of our current class members!

Another congratulations is in order! Tesha Larkins, Class of 2015 and Samantha Napier, Class of 2024, have been selected to represent Coastal Plains RESA for the GaDOE School Social Work Advisory Council! Their dedication to the development of our youth goes above and beyond. Thank you Tesha and Samantha for all of your hard work in our community!

Well earned Jason, Class of 2022 alumni! Your hard work and dedication is evident to all who know you!

Congratulations to Lowndes High School Director of Work-Based Learning and Youth Apprenticeship Programs, Jason Van Nus, who has been honored with the YouScience Innovative Educator Award!

The YouScience Innovative Educator Award recognizes educators who implement forward-thinking approaches to inspire the next generation of professionals through academic and career exploration.

Jason Van Nus, Director of Work-Based Learning and Youth Apprenticeship Programs, has been a transformative force in connecting education with industry in our community.

One of Van Nus' innovative initiatives is what he calls a Reverse Career Fair, where students learn to advocate for themselves by presenting and pitching their skills and interests to potential employers. This unique approach has received positive feedback from employers, highlighting its effectiveness in bridging the gap between education and industry needs.

Congratulations, Mr. Van Nus!

Along with Molly, we had another adoption come from our visit to the Lowndes County, GA animal shelter last week! Snickers, formerly known as Paddington, has a new home and the sweetest girl to love on him!

Leadership Lowndes stopped by the Lowndes County Animal Shelter last Thursday as part of their Local Government Day. The class was able to tour the shelter and hear from staff. During the tour, Regan, who helped plan Local Government Day, saw Miss Molly and fell in love! She stated she had previously owned a cat named Molly, so it was meant to be! Regan went back to the shelter on Friday and took Miss Molly home!

We are so excited that Regan and Miss Molly found each other, and we wish them the best! ❤

Looking for a pet? Think about adopting a pet from the Lowndes County Animal Shelter: https://www.lowndescounty.com/366/To-Adopt

Are you interested in joining Leadership Lowndes? Do you know someone today that you think could benefit from a deep dive into our ever-evolving community? As our community grows, so does the importance of programs like Leadership Lowndes. Participation in our program allows for current and future leaders to be better equipped in areas of service, awareness, teamwork, strategic thinking, and communication. By joining the Leadership Lowndes family, our future leaders will have a growing network of support and guidance.

We are excited to announce that in an effort to increase our regional strength and identity, we have opened nominations for people who work in Lowndes County but reside in our surrounding counties! These counties include Brooks, Cook, Berrien, Lanier, and Echols counties. By doing this, we hope to establish Lowndes County as the regional hub for growth and development in South Georgia!

Nominations will remain open through August 31, 2024 and applications will be sent out in September. You can nominate someone or you can nominate yourself! We have many plans and goals already in motion for next year that we are so excited to see but we need your help and continued support. Nominate today by following the link below!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdQZHe8IfxXXC7kj-XvN0q4NX8o02ds2U_a8NKSmrj_nd8Wwg/viewform

Game on! Who’s ready for a pickle?

We are so excited to announce our first ever Pickleball Tournament and the team really knocked it out of the court! This event is open to all alumni, current class members, prospective new members, and friends of Leadership Lowndes! We hope to see lots of old and new faces there! Please follow the link to register today!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSMwMNT6hXtFRdmJBGb5q4Xb6QfapIk44jSBl6ZiAmlrV6Aw/viewform

If you’d like to attend the festivities to cheer from the sidelines and enjoy Ella's Top Corral burger bar, you can purchase a “sideline pass” for $20!

https://checkout.square.site/merchant/DCM950RH0NQEY/checkout/RPJGFMWAPSW4P6FPREE66BQ4

It’s sure to be a dill-ightful time for all attendees!

Another great cause to support in our community! The Class of 2024 is kicking it out of the park with their service projects!

One of the service groups in the Class of 2024 has partnered with the Department of Public Health and will be hosting "Dueling for Awareness" to raise funds and awareness about their work combatting the opioid crisis in Lowndes County! To RSVP, email [email protected].

On June 20, the Class of 2024 got a behind the scenes look at some of the organizations that have a huge impact on our health and serve some of our most vulnerable populations. They were able to tour Second Harvest of South Georgia food bank and understand how many people in our region rely on them for basic needs. The class visited the CASA House and heard how their volunteers and staff are advocating for local children in the foster care system. SGMC gave the class a peek behind the curtain to their new cath lab and ambulances along with their plans for future growth and service to the community. Partnership Health Clinic told the class how they are able to serve and heal our community. The class even squeezed in a work out along with a tour at the YMCA because exercise is vital to our health! Thank you to all who hosted and spoke with us!

We are so proud of the work that the Class of 2024 is doing in our community! One of the service groups has partnered with Quola Community Soup Kitchen to help bring awareness, collect goods, and raise funds that will directly benefit Quola! Please consider sponsoring, walking and donating to this great organization!

We're thrilled to have welcomed students from the 2024 Class of Leadership Lowndes to our Regular Session Meeting last night! 🌟 Here's a special thanks to Mayor Pro Tem Andy Gibbs of District 6 and Assistant City Manager Catherine Ammons for leading the meeting. 🙌 Your dedication and enthusiasm inspire us all! 👏✨

On May 16, 2024, the Class of 2024 got to spend the day exploring many of the things and places that make Valdosta/Lowndes County so fun! Quality of Life day is always a highlight of our programs days. The class was able to explore Wild Adventures and check out the new Dinosaur Exhibit and a few brave souls took a swing on a ride! Bill Shenton gave the class a tour of the Annette Turner Howell Center of the Arts campus where they learned about the classes and experiences offered. From there, the class took a walking tour of the Downtown Arts District to check out the local public arts and heard from speakers about everything our Downtown has to offer followed by lunch at the newly restored Historic Courthouse. At Valdosta State, they learned about Peach State Summer Theater and the many games played by the great Blazers! At Recoil Trampoline Park, the class was able to experience the joy of being young at heart by jumping and playing laser tag! The VLPRA gave us a first glimpse at the new pickleball courts at McKey Park. The class even got a behind the scenes look at Georgia Beer Company in a tour led by their own classmate!

There are SO MANY wonderful things to do in our community and we are so thankful to all of our hosts and speakers for allowing us to spend the day showing what makes Valdosta such a wonderful place to live and work!

TODAY IS THE DAY! Make your voice heard and VOTE!

🗳️ Tomorrow is Election Day! 🗳️

Your voice matters, and every vote counts! Make sure you head to the polls and cast your ballot. Confirm your polling location by clicking on the link below. If you need assistance or can't find your location, call the Lowndes County Board of Elections office at 229-671-2850. Spread the word and encourage your friends and family to vote!

Click link to confirm polling location: https://ow.ly/uHNW50RNFnC

And remember, vote 𝙔𝙀𝙎 to renew the 𝙎𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙣 𝙍𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙄𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘼𝙘𝙩! It will be the last question on your ballot.

Our program is designed to put local leaders in places to better our community and these alumni are great examples! They’re spending the day volunteering with Greater Valdosta United Way for the Spring Day of Caring! True leadership requires service and we are so proud of the impact our alumni make on this community!

Such a fun time at a great new addition to our community!

Leadership Lowndes is an organization FILLED with talent, ingenuity, and of course Leadership. However, every so often organizations have a JEWEL that shines so bright, it spills over into other organizations, programs, and hearts. It’s rare you get a JULI. On behalf of the Leadership Lowndes Fam, we would like to take a moment to wish our “superstar” leader Juli Powell a WONDERFUL birthday.
Juli is a prime example of “loving where you live” so help her classmates and colleagues wish her the HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY!
“23”

Many of you know Adam Setser, Leadership Lowndes Class of 2019, and the hardships he and his wife have been facing with their sweet daughter, Vera Kate. First Baptist Valdosta is opening their Chapel tomorrow for prayer for Vera Kate and her family. Please stop by during your lunch hour if you are able. Keep the Setser family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. All our love to the Setser family 💙

Last Thursday, the LL Class of 2024 gained insight into the operations of various industries in Lowndes and surrounding counties. We began the day by learning about the significance of economic development in our growing community and how we, as local leaders, can contribute to its success and support our local industries. We visited GAF Manufacturing, Steeda Autosports, Langboard OSB, and Arglass, and had a working lunch at Raisin' Cane, where we heard from local agritourism leaders about the importance of purchasing GA grown produce and products. Thank you to all who took time to speak with the class and give us valuable insight into local economic development!

Congratulations Kayla Calloway! Kayla is a graduate of Leadership Lowndes Youth program and has shown what hard work and dedication can accomplish!

Nick Perry and the Ella’s Top Corral team have proven that when you show up for the community, the community shows up for you! Congrats to Nick, Class of 2023 alumni, on the reopening of Ella’s Top Corral yesterday! Their acts of service for Lowndes county through the months they were closed and the decades prior are a true representation of leadership.

Ella’s Top Corral re-opens after closing due to Hurricane Idalia damage Lowndes County celebrated the reopening of a hometown restaurant that has been closed since Hurricane Idalia destroyed parts of the county nearly seven months ago.