SAMPLE MISSION STATEMENT

What is FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP?

FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP is a local organization of business and civic leaders, city, county and state administrators, public officials, educators, graduate students, and other persons interested in the enhancement of leadership in the Gainesville community. The organization seeks to identify new and experienced black leaders and provide a mechanism to further advance their involvement in the community.

The FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP program was started in Gainesville in September, 1990 through the efforts of John Fitzwater, publisher of the Gainesville Sun and State Representative Cynthia Chestnut. The program was created to address the need for more black leaders in the community. The organization is modeled after the Focus program in Charlotte, North Carolina, which was developed in 1986.

What is the mission of FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP?

The purpose of FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP is to develop and promote leadership among ethnic minorities.

FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP strives to accomplish this purpose through its Program and Alumni components:

• The Program Component

The Focus Program is designed to identify Minority citizens who are interested in working to help the community, to provide them with information about many aspects of the community, and to enhance their leadership skills.

• The Alumni Component

The Alumni of FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP shall be those members who have successfully completed a Focus class. These members form the Alumni organization of FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP. The purpose of the Alumni organization is to insure the continuation of the Focus Program, to develop a network of Minority leaders in the community, and to address specific needs of thier community.

Affiliated with FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP through the Alumni organization is an Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee is comprised of those individuals and organizations who contribute significantly to the FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP program and who are approved by the Alumni organization. The purpose of the Advisory committee is to provide assistance to FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP.

Objectives of FOCUS ON LEADERSHIP:

Leadership - Sharpen leadership skills, graduates should be prepared and motivated to take on increased leadership role.

Information - Become better informed, learn more about the community; learn about the history, social fabric and politics of the community.

Accessibility - Make local government, the media and other businesses and agencies of the community more accessible to minorities.

Involvement - Encourage more minority involvement in business, politics and other community activities; more involved in the decision-making process.

Diversity - Encourage minorities from a variety of positions throughout the community to diversify the minority representation on boards, committees, etc.

Community Needs - Look at the specific needs of the minority community and the community in general, and devise methods to address those needs.

Self-determination - graduates from the program become the structure and organization for a continuing program.