Leadership program graduates 19

By DON CUDDY
Standard-Times staff writer
June 21, 2007

DARTMOUTH -- The Leadership SouthCoast program celebrated the graduation Wednesday of its 19 participants with words of wisdom from a distinguished educator.

The keynote speaker was Salome Thomas-El, who has taught in the Philadelphia public schools since 1987 and achieved national recognition after middle-school children from his inner-city classroom began winning national chess championships under his tutelage.

His story, published in 2003 as the book "I Choose to Stay," has been picked up by Disney and a script is being developed with Will Smith committed to portray Mr. Thomas-El.

"Leadership is about how we choose to influence others," Mr. Thomas-El told an audience that also included several dozen young people from the HOPE Collaborative, a coalition of 19 community groups seeking to address gang violence among the city's youths.

"Children emulate what they see," he said. "These kids want to be T.O. and Mike Tyson because that's what they see. But they need to see educators and mentors who are doing well in their community, especially men."

Now in its third year, Leadership SouthCoast offers selected individuals the opportunity to participate in a 10-month leadership program designed to assist them in becoming a force for positive change in their communities. The graduation ceremony was held at UMass Dartmouth Wednesday afternoon.

Explaining how the program works, executive director Antone C. Vieira said, "We bring together people from the business, education and nonprofit community to show them how to become better leaders and also to study a variety of issues that the SouthCoast is facing. These include economic development, education, environment and social services."

The program was founded by CEOs in New Bedford and Fall River four years ago, he said.

"It's been a great experience," said graduate Kevin Pelland, president of Downtown New Bedford Inc. "It's enlightened me, and I think the whole group, as to what leadership means. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to better themselves or their community."

Deputy Police Chief David A. Provencher said Leadership SouthCoast had played a key role in helping to organize the HOPE Collaborative.

"Kids have to make a choice every day between being leaders and being followers, and we're trying to teach these kids that they can choose to do the right thing," he said.

The celebration also included a live appearance by the hip-hop group 4Peace.

"Our message is to get young people to think before they act," group leader D Quest said. "We're coming out with peace and we're going to end with peace.