Health and Hope Clinic of Pensacola the Recipient of a Great Amenity Courtesy of LeaP 22!

The Leadership Pensacola "LeaP" Class is a year long program sponsored by the Pensacola Chamber to give area businesses and individuals the opportunity to hone their leadership and teambuilding skills via collaborative efforts and projects that benefit the Pensacola community.  You can read all about LeaP here.

Normally 10-months in duration, The extended (Due to the Pandemic) COVID-19 Leadership Pensacola Class of 2020-2022 recently completed one of their two community service project(s) and opened it up for use yesterday.  

This particular project was the design and building of an outdoor gazebo at Pensacola's only full-time, full-service, 100% free to the end user medical and dental clinic for working citizens that do not have medical or dental insurance--the Health & Hope Clinic of Pensacola.  

Staffed by volunteer providers (dentists, doctors, nurses, counselors) the Health and Hope Clinic's mission inspired the LeaP class of 2022 to help in a meaningful way.  You can read all about the Health and Hope Clinic and their mission Here

On days when it is hot or raining, the Gazebo that was constructed by LeaP-- along with the associated brick walkway--will give patients an additional space to wait for their appointements or a ride from their appointments out of the direct sunlight or rain.  

It is strategically located between the Health & Hope Clinic and Ministry Village at Olive Church, another nonprofit entity that provides support services to citizens in need of items like food assistance and job training.

It was a great celebration yesterday of giving and helping the community.

Thanks to Leap22, the Pensacola Chamber, all the company sponsors, the individuals that did the work, and everyone else associated with making this project happen!

Leadership Pensacola (LeaP) Spends a Morning with the Board of County Commissioners

LeaP class 2019 spent the morning with the Escambia Board of County Commissioners today

Today the newest Leadership Pensacola class spent the morning with the Escambia Board of County Commissioners. 

Leadership Pensacola (LeaP), is a project of the Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, designed to cultivate and incubate leaders in the community.  From the Pensacola Chamber Website about LeaP:

"Leadership Pensacola (LeaP), a program of the Pensacola Chamber Foundation, aims to develop community-minded leaders during its 10-month-long program. LeaP is designed to help participants acquire an understanding of the issues facing the Pensacola area and to gain the leadership skills necessary to resolve them. Candidates sought come from a cross-section of the community – men and women from different political, career, educational, social and cultural backgrounds. Participants accepted into LeaP are involved in a balanced combination of retreats, day-long seminars and community projects. The program is refined annually by a committed group of LeaP alumni. Area decision-makers offer their time and expertise while tours and interactive exercises are built into each day."

The class of 2019, roughly 40 of them,  heard first from commissioner Lumon May.  He spoke to the group about his reasons for serving on the County Commission, and his thoughts about this service.

I came into the room right after Commissioner May, and my portion of the session was to take questions from the group, describe the day's Committee Meeting, and tell the group a little bit about what the biggest issues of the day would be.

The discussion centered on the complex, lengthy land swap between the U.S. Navy and Escambia County--the OLF 8 issue.  I had the opportunity to give the history of the issue, the current state of the project, and my personal thoughts on the matter--as the chairman of the board and as the representative of the district where OLF 8 sits geographically.

LeaP class 2019 spent the morning with the Escambia Board of County Commissioners today

Several great questions were asked, about OLF8 and even about Public Beach Access on Perdido Key.

After the Q and A, the LeaP class came down to our chambers to sit in on the Board's workshop.

It was good to see so many citizens interested in what we do and how we do it, I enjoyed speaking to this group and I look forward to seeing how this class progresses going forward.