The Hamilton County Leadership Academy (HCLA) has received a $5,000 grant through the Duke Energy Foundation. The funding will be used to support HCLA’s in-depth community leadership curriculum and expand the program’s community impact initiatives.
Duke Energy’s Government & Community Relations Manager Mark LaBarr (left), a 2013 graduate of HCLA, presents HCLA’s Executive Director John Robbins with a Duke Energy grant. (Photo provided)
HCLA’s flagship community leadership program has graduated over 700 leaders since its inception in 1991. The program offers immersive curriculum to deepen participants’ knowledge of Hamilton County and provide them with the tools and resources they need to positively impact their community. Each person in the program is required to join a project team addressing a key community issue during their 10-month program experience.
“A key part of our curriculum is designed to give participants the tools and experience required to identify opportunities, address challenges and develop solutions to help strengthen their community,” said HCLA Executive Director John Robbins. “Everyone learns about group work in school or has project experience in the work they do, but very few understand what is required to mobilize community leaders and inspire them to work on a pressing community issue. This grant will allow us to continue to inspire our participants to dream big and it will allow us to encourage alumni to continue to focus on community impact well after they have left our program.”
Beyond the financial support provided by the grant, Duke Energy will continue to support the mission of HCLA through board service, committee work and providing access to Duke Energy facilities, staff and partners.
“The Hamilton County Leadership Academy is an organization focused on making the county a strong, thriving and connected community,” said Duke Energy Community Relations Manager Mark LaBarr. “We know great people are at the heart of great communities, which is why we are invested in HCLA’s success. HCLA helps leaders make an impact in their community. We’re excited to help the organization in growing its impact.”
HCLA welcomed its 28th class of community leaders last August. These leaders will showcase their community impact projects in June 2019 as part of their celebration and graduation from the program.
About the Hamilton County Leadership Academy
The Hamilton County Leadership Academy helps leaders connect to their communities, so they can make a difference. Everything the organization does is tied to one of their three pillars: Learn, connect and lead. The core program and related curriculum helps participants gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of Hamilton County. Its 29-year history in the community and more than 700 alumni provide meaningful connections throughout the county. A commitment to leading in the community challenges participants and alumni to seek out issues, causes and projects that will help to make Hamilton County an amazing place to live, work and play. For more information about the Hamilton County Leadership Academy, visit hcla.net. For additional information about the program contact John Robbins at jrobbins@HCLA.net or 317-606-0324.
About Duke Energy
Duke Energy is one of the largest electric power holding companies in the United States, providing electricity to 7.6 million retail customers in six states. They have approximately 49,500 megawatts of electric generating capacity in the Carolinas, the Midwest and Florida – and natural gas distribution services serving more than 1.6 million customers in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and the Carolinas. Their commercial business owns and operates diverse power generation assets in North America, including a portfolio of renewable energy assets. Duke Energy is transforming their customers’ experience, modernizing their energy grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding their natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for their customers. For more information about Duke Energy, visit duke-energy.com.