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“We feel the necessary health restrictions in place due to COVID-19 will not allow our 2020-21 participants to benefit from the full academy experience,” president Jason Hill said in a press release.
Founded in 1981, the local nonprofit provides programming relating to leadership skills, sensitivity to community needs and diversity.
“It’s for anybody who’s currently in a leadership role in Clark County and wants to learn more about Clark County or expand their knowledge,” incoming executive director Leigh Anne Lawrence said in a phone interview.”
Typically 35 applicants from the area would be chosen to take part in monthly sessions that begin in the fall with an event called “The Amazing Race” and run through March. Along the way, they learn about the history of Clark County, leadership development and the current needs of the community.
Lawrence said the 2019-20 class was able to finish its session with the exception of graduation, which was scheduled to take place in late March.
However, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a stay-at-home order in March banning gatherings of more than 10 people along with the closing of many “non-essential” businesses and other restrictions.
Modified to meet social distancing requirements, graduation has been rescheduled for this week with graduates set to be recognized Thursday.
They will receive letters of commendation from DeWine, State Rep. Kyle Koehler, State Sen. Bob Hackett and Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague.
Although many businesses have been allowed to reopen, groups of more than 10 remain restricted at least through the end of June.
That led LCC to make other plans for the fall rather than take the program online.
“In person is more valuable,” Lawrence said. “Like, ‘The Amazing Race’ is very hands on. Our history session, we walk around areas of Clark County and we also go on a charter bus, so there’s a lot of close contact. And we just didn’t know if those things would be possible.”
In addition to its academy sessions, the group holds reengagement activities with alumni of the program once per quarter.
Those are still in the plans, at least as possible based on whatever restrictions are in place by the state and local health departments.
“If restrictions are lifted, we would like to look into the possibility of having some of those,” Lawrence said. “We just don’t know what’s going to be possible.”
The group also looks forward to engaging via Facebook, Twitter and the Leadership Clark County website.
“This is a unique opportunity to enhance our future academy programs while engaging the community through social media,” she said.
The group also plans to invest in the community by supporting local businesses and non-profit organizations in a collaboration between Lawrence and its board, which includes Springfield city manager Bryan Heck, Springfield fire chief Brian Miller and Clark County Clerk of Courts Melissa Tuttle.
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