LIHU‘E — Sherri Patrick is the executive director and program director for Leadership Kaua‘i and Jerry Brocklehurst will be the president of the board for Leadership Kaua‘i, according to a news release. The management team changes, which were effective Tuesday,
LIHU‘E — Sherri Patrick is the executive director and program director for Leadership Kaua‘i and Jerry Brocklehurst will be the president of the board for Leadership Kaua‘i, according to a news release.
The management team changes, which were effective Tuesday, were done to support program changes that also were announced this week.
“I’m really pleased that Sherri will resume the executive director role again,” Brocklehurst said in the release. “In our year working together, it’s been very clear to me that her style and delivery of the program with infusion of Hawaiian cultural practices has been incredibly effective. More of this will only enhance the experience and meaning of the leadership training skills our students receive.”
One of the important leadership skills of any organization is the ability to adapt and thrive, keeping in step with changing times, states the release.
Leadership Kaua‘i has used its own training principles to enact some changes which allow it to remain adaptable and effective for the future.
The reorganization of its management, a restructuring of its adult and youth programs, and expanding the board and its function headline the major changes which take effect with its August 2012 through June 2013 training programs.
“Leadership Kaua‘i is a program I have fully supported for a long time — both as a graduate of LK and now, seeing these changes which will expand and enhance its effectiveness,” said Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. in the release. “I look for Sherri, Jerry and the LK team to continue to bring meaningful leadership training to our future island leaders. The change can only be good for Kaua‘i’s future.”
The Pi‘ina Hoku Youth Leadership program is being brought directly to Kapa‘a High School where LK will be able to reach hundreds of youth rather than working with a separate class of 20 high school juniors.
To facilitate this transition, LK has formed a partnership with Kapa‘a High School principal Daniel Hamada, the school’s faculty and staff, and Kapu A‘e, an independent leadership training company headed by Mason Chock, a former LK executive director.
Under the new program, Kupu A‘e will work with the school’s 10th grade students and LK will work with the incoming Kapa‘a High freshmen.
The working partnership will reach more than 500 students in the 2012-13 school year, helping them establish and practice good leadership principles. The program was crafted by the work done by Brocklehurst, Chock, Patrick and Hamada during most of the past year.
The restructured and expanded approach to training Kaua‘i’s youth can be, in the future, expanded to include other high schools on Kaua‘i.
LK has structured a curriculum which both deepens and widens its focus on the local and Hawaiian cultural aspects in order to provide the participants with a richer and more personal experience in the LK adult leadership program, the release states.
Recruitment for the Class of 2013 is still in progress and Patrick has designed the new program to have a more meaningful infusion of Hawaiian cultural practices.
Two of the changes include an opening orientation on Aug. 31 in Hanapepe which will include harvesting pa‘akai from the salt beds, and a graduation ceremony and lu‘au on June 15 which will have students preparing Hawaiian foods in a traditional manner.
“Formerly, these two program days were held in air-conditioned, indoor meeting rooms, but will now be held outdoors to help nurture a stronger sense of place and provide opportunities for our participants to connect with each other through our host culture,” Patrick said.
The LK Board of Directors will expand and take on a more day-to-day role with Brocklehurst as president of the board to support the program enhancements.
Jade Battad, Kaleo Carvalho and Keith Yap, all community leaders and LK graduates, have joined the board, bringing the number of graduates from the LK adult program to nine of the 13 members.
Serving as officers of the board are Mark Hubbard, vice president, Kaulana Finn, secretary, and Kirk Nakamoto, treasurer.
Kaleo Carvalho, in addition to his role on the board, is spearheading efforts to engage the Leadership Kaua‘i Alumni Network in various fundraising, mentorship and organizational activities throughout the year.
Visit www.leadershipkauai.org for more information or to enroll in the 2013 Adult Class.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
