Hinton Center Taking Applications for their 4th Class of Leadership Chatuge - Community Builders

Hinton Rural Life Center is excited to announce that we are taking applications for our fourth class of Leadership Chatuge – Community Builders!  We accept participants from Clay, Cherokee, and Towns Counties.  The class meets on Thursdays from 4:30 pm until 7:30 pm at Hinton Center.  The topics include Leadership Development, Economic Development, History, Poverty Awareness, Government, Education, and Nonprofits.  The cost for the class is $375 and includes meals for each class session.  For more information, contact Jackie@HintonCenter.org.  Seats are limited.  Some partial scholarships are available.  Applications are attached.  Deadline for applications is August 6th, 2021! ​

Love your community? Want to see it become a thriving place with opportunities for all of our neighbors? 

Join with others who – like you – want to learn about resources and challenges in our area, ways we can address them by working together, and skills that will equip and help us to do it. 

Strengthen your leadership skills and help build your community! ​

Great communities share an important trait — they develop a legacy of positive community builders. We can’t deny that we live in a fantastic place. The people are wonderful and the scenery is breathtaking. But, in order to thrive, our community must invest in our human resources, and our schools, businesses, government, and local organizations need to be a part of this investment.

Beginnings: Leadership Chatuge Community Builders

In 2016 Hinton Rural Life Center collaborated with UNC-Greensboro’s Center for Housing and Community Studies to conduct a “Quality of Life Study” for our region. In 2017 the study’s results were reported, identifying seven areas of interest. One of those areas was Economic Development. The consensus was that the best way to better serve our community is to provide opportunities for our residents to learn more about economic development, community development, local resources, and government.

What Is Economic Development?
​
Economic Development means different things to different people. One definition is “the creation of wealth from which community benefits are realized.” But, economic development is more than a jobs program -- it's an investment in growing your economy and enhancing the prosperity and quality of life for all residents. Whether you decide to open a business, lead a community group, volunteer with a civic organization or coach a recreational sport for our young people, communities prosper because of people who decide to better themselves in order to help improve their community. 

The goal of Hinton Rural Life Center’s Leadership Chatuge is to provide opportunities that strengthen those living/working in Clay or surrounding counties who want to build a thriving community for all of our neighbors. 
​

What Is Leadership Chatuge Community Builders?

Leadership Chatuge was launched in 2019 at Hinton Rural Life Center in Hayesville, NC, and is offered annually. Participants in the Leadership Chatuge Community Builders experience meet one evening a week for 12 weeks. Each class is 3 hours and includes dinner. Classes are held each year.
During the weekly sessions, local and regional leaders share their experiences and knowledge on topics that include leadership styles, effective communication, regional history, complexities of poverty in Appalachia, economic development, government and other public services, and asset-based community development.

Who Should Participate? How Do You Apply? Are Scholarships Available?

Those working or serving in the businesses, nonprofits, education, government, religious organizations, and other areas of the community are encouraged to apply. Tuition for the class covers materials and dinner each week. Some partial scholarships are available. Tuition and corporate sponsorships will help sustain this opportunity for years to come.
​
For more information, to get an application, or to learn more about sponsorship, email Jacqueline Gottlieb at jackie@hintoncenter.org or Ricky Hill at ricky@hintoncenter.org.