The Nelson and Sue Andrews Institute for Civic Leadership announced a new program entitled ‘Leadership Tennessee’ to the Nashville community early Wednesday.
‘Leadership Tennessee’ will be a 10-month program that will enlist a variety of community leaders and put them to the task of coming up with ideas to solve different state issues.
Linda Peek Schacht, the executive director of the Andrews Institute, shared her excitement for the plans in a statement released by the university.
“The guiding principle of the Andrews Institute is that great communities are intentional, not accidental. Great states are intentional, not accidental,” Schacht said. “When we bring leaders together from the private, public and nonprofit sectors to work together for the common good, communities can change. Leadership Tennessee extends statewide this collaborative leadership model, based on the idea that informed, committed citizens can find common ground and make common cause to address the challenges and opportunities facing a community, region or state.”
Lipscomb President Dr. Randy Lowry also expressed his enthusiasm in the statement.
“For the past two years, the Andrews Institute for Civic Leadership has made an impact on Middle Tennessee as it has built on the legacy of Nashville leader Nelson Andrews by engaging emerging and current leaders from government, business and nonprofit sectors in programs to create thriving communities by collaborating together for the common good,” said Lowry.
“Nelson Andrews helped create successful local leadership programs. His family chose Lipscomb University to be the institution to expand his vision of collaborative leadership to the state and beyond. So, it is very fitting that the newest initiative from the institute that bears his name is leading the way with the development of Leadership Tennessee. It’s another way the Andrews Institute is making an impact on the community.”
To help announce the launch, Tennessee governor Bill Haslam attended the event held in the Paul Rogers boardroom of the Ezell Building and shared his belief in the significance of the program.
“For me, the important part is that [Leadership Tennessee] is a statewide effort with a statewide discussion,” Gov. Haslam said.
The governor said he hopes the new program will bring together different people from around Tennessee to create a new statewide perspective on issues facing the state.
The new program is set to begin in August.