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The Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce recently launched the 29th year of its Leadership Ohio Valley program.
Designed to encourage members of the local business community to take a more active role in their home towns, the program, originally known as Leadership Weirton, exposes participants to elements including education, business and economic development, health care, history and culture and government, as well as opportunities for them to volunteer.
This year's class includes 14 people with a variety of backgrounds and interests.
They already have completed their first event, a simulated society exercise, with others to take place once each month leading up to their graduation in June.
Leadership Ohio Valley is designed for participants to take an active role in their experience. The chamber, while organizing the program, does not necessarily lead it. Each session is planned and implemented by the class itself, with guidance offered by coordinators from a previous class as well as volunteers from the community.
Sessions are not limited to Weirton, either, with the class encouraged to seek activities in Hancock and Brooke counties, or anywhere else in the Tri-State Area if they wish.
The class is asked to find a way to give back through the creation of a community project. Previous efforts have included a cleanup of Starvaggi Park, purchasing and installing new flags and benches at the Weirton Honor Roll memorial, landscaping and new fencing at the Panhandle Recreational Trail, work at Cove Commons, new benches and plants behind the Mary H. Weir Public Library and the construction of a "giving box" for pet food and supplies which now is located next to the headquarters station of the Weirton Fire Department.
Leadership Ohio Valley is a true journey of community involvement.
We wish this year's participants well in their endeavors in the months ahead and hope it encourages them and others to step forward if they see a need.