Coakley tells Leadership SouthCoast grads to celebrate successes, failures

By John Moss
Fall River Herald News
June 25, 2008

Direct link to article online.

Dartmouth --

State Attorney General Martha Coakley told 18 graduates of Leadership SouthCoast on Wednesday night that they are prepared to be good community and business leaders in the region.
"You are now inspired and equipped to be good leaders," she told graduates at the program’s fourth annual commencement and reception at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's Woodland Commons.
"You'll have successes and you'll have failures, and you should celebrate both of them," she said.
Leadership SouthCoast is a 10-month community leadership program designed to develop the organizational, leadership and problem-solving skills of its participants.
"Use your skills and build on what you've done," Coakley told the graduates.
She stressed the importance of graduates becoming involved in the study of citizenship and government.
Coakley called Leadership SouthCoast a “fabulous” program, and said it taught the participants how to use their skills to bring people together to accomplish their goals.
"Put your egos on the shelf and ask, 'What do we need to do to get this done?'" she said.
The program offers its students insight into the community and helps them identify where strategic alliances might be forged, and provides perspectives on the behind-the-scenes workings of the state.
Michael Roy said the program provided him and his fellow graduates with "all we need to know about this community."
"We were transformed into a highly motivated group,” he said. “We're now better prepared and committed to make the SouthCoast a better place to live and work."
Program Chairman James Mathes said that over the past four years, nearly 80 residents of the region have been trained to be community and business leaders.
"Leadership SouthCoast has created opportunities for contact with influential leaders, and provided experience in critical thinking, group dynamics, team leadership, presentation skills, ethics and decision-making," he said.
The program's Class of 2008 is "ready to move into action, empowered and motivated to make a difference in their communities," Mathes said.
Noting that the SouthCoast region has "lagged behind for so long," he said, "We will change that ourselves or suffer it. ... We have 18 new leaders in our region with ideas of their own.
"This is a real milestone since five years ago," he said. "The pieces have come together."
The class participants were Carmen Aguilar, Robert J. Barboza, Beth Sylvia Caldwell, David M. Chandler, James F. Cobbs Jr.; Maria A. Cordeiro, Richard C. Couse, Yolanda L. Dennis, Gail M. Fortes, Sarah Z. Gonet; William E. Grigg, Jennifer Holske, Julianne Kelly, Roy M. Nascimento, Susan B. Oldrid; Marie-Frances Rivera, Michael R. Roy and Dennis M. Wyatt.
Antone C. Vieira Jr., the program's executive director of corporate programs and partnerships, presided over the event.
State Rep. Michael J. Rodrigues, D-Westport, presented certificates to the graduates.

E-mail John Moss at jmoss@heraldnews.com.