Leadership Macomb tells commissioners its programs have produced nearly 2,000 local graduates over 27 years

Karen Smith, executive director of Leadership Macomb, told the Macomb County Board of Commissioners on June 12 that the nonprofit’s adult and junior leadership programs have produced nearly 2,000 graduates since the organization began in 1996.

Smith said the adult program typically recruits a class of about 45 to 50 participants who meet for 10 full-day sessions over a 10-month period and visit roughly 25 sites with more than 120 presenters in a year. She said the program focuses on county systems including justice, health care, defense, environment, education, government, business and the arts, and that employers often pay participants’ tuition while scholarships and payment plans are available.

The board heard that Leadership Macomb’s junior program, started 13 years ago for high school juniors, has graduated about 400 students and is nearly free to participants: the program charges $200 but “never turn[s] anyone away that can’t pay,” Smith said. The junior program provides field trips, financial literacy, resume writing, mock interviews, career exploration, team building, implicit-bias training, community-service projects and job shadowing.

"Our combined programs have had almost 2,000 graduates," Smith said, describing outcomes including graduates who return to live in Macomb County, serve on nonprofit boards, found businesses or run for office. Smith cited specific local impacts from program alumni, such as a former sheriff, Mark Hackel, who is a graduate, and alumni partnerships that produced a mural at a juvenile facility and placed teaching students at STARBASE on the Selfridge campus.

Commissioners who spoke after the presentation praised the junior program. "Junior Leadership Macomb has a special place in my heart," said Commissioner Craft, who described the visits from students as some of the more interesting meetings. Commissioner Wells said the program helped her daughter develop public-speaking and social skills.

Chair Sabatini said the commission will work to deepen its relationship with Leadership Macomb and thanked the nonprofit for its work.

Smith noted Leadership Macomb is a 501(c)(3) whose revenue comes from tuition, sponsorships and donations and described funding challenges typical for nonprofits. She thanked the board for selecting Leadership Macomb as one of the charities for the county’s casual-day program and invited commissioners to ask questions or participate in the program.

The presentation was received and filed by unanimous vote of the board.