The first cohort of the new Community Leadership Academy in Benton Harbor will celebrate its graduation with a ceremony this week.
The Community Leadership Academy, organized by Be Healthy Berrien, launched its first class at the Corewell Health Center for Wellness in September.
Be Healthy Berrien Director Dawn Marie Smith told us back in September this first cohort consists of 12 community members of varying ages who wanted to learn how they could make a difference. For ten weeks, they attended sessions led by the United Way and Corewell to discuss teambuilding and leadership.
“The academy offers the knowledge, the structure, and the support for these local community members or residents to turn their ideas into meaningful actions that ultimately will strengthen the neighborhoods,” Smith said.
The 12 graduates completed a Community Improvement Project focused on raising awareness around youth gun violence and promoting a safer and healthier community.
The graduation ceremony will be held this Thursday, December 11 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Corewell Center for Wellness in Benton Harbor. Everyone’s invited to attend the event and see participant presentations and interactive displays showing the project’s impact and next steps.
The academy is funded by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund through the United Way of Southwest Michigan, and organizers say the program will expand to Niles and Buchanan in 2026.
