Advancing leadership connects youth and wisdom

Published 12:34 pm Friday, May 9, 2008

The Advancing Leadership class of 2008 concluded this year’s program with a celebration event May 6 at the Federal Way Senior Center.

This year’s class project, titled “Building Dreams Through Shared Experiences,” involved forming a partnership between children in the Federal Way School District with senior mentors. Seniors would read to children at school and also host after-school activities at the center.

“Seniors are a tremendous resource. They’re a treasure for our society,” said Federal Way Senior Center executive director Nathan Brown.

He added that seniors have time to invest back into their community.

Regarding the senior mentors’ relationship with local children, the seniors would often comment “I’m not sure who’s mentoring who,” Brown said.

Tom Murphy, superintendent of Federal Way schools, applauded this year’s Advancing Leadership class for building community.

“The projects are helping to define who we are as a community,” said Murphy, an Advancing Leadership board member.

The Federal Way Chamber of Commerce established the Advancing Leadership program in 1998 to provide emerging community leaders with the skills, knowledge and connections to make a positive difference in Federal Way, according to the Web site www.advancingleadership.org/.

A video produced by this year’s class can also be found online at www.youtube.com/

federalwaymirror/.