It’s time for a new round of Lafayette Countians to step up and become rising stars for their community.

Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for its Leadership Lafayette Class of 2016, and  you have the opportunity to not only learn more about the community where you live and work, but also make a difference through a class project.

The course begins in January and ends in September and is packed with sessions for personal growth. The requirements are attending sessions and being involved in a community-based group or team project.

Past projects from Leadership classes include an app that allows users to have a guided walking tour through historic Oxford. Another was to design, approve and install county entrance signage on Highway 6 welcoming people to the county. A third successful project was to measure and mark distances on walking/running paths in Oxford’s city parks.

Leadership Lafayette was created to ensure leadership continues in the community, whether it is bringing up new talent or assisting already established community leaders with more effective ways to give back to the area.

The classes include an after-hours kickoff, leadership for the 21st century personality types, team building, a community scavenger hunt, project management, the university, criminal justice, community development and education, business and industry, health care, community service and government, and more.

“The continued success of our community depends on leaders equipped with the skills necessary to effectively meet the challenges of our future,” says the Leadership Lafayette Steering Committee. “We feel that Leadership Lafayette fulfills the mission of preparing these future leaders.”

If you have an employee who shows an active interest in the Lafayette-Oxford-University area or think could benefit from the course, let them have the time to  participate. Having community knowledge benefits those in most professional sectors, especially the hospitality industry.  A knowledgeable employee who cares about the community is a very valuable asset for a company and the investment will return in many ways.

Contact the Chamber for more information on the program, and let’s continue making Lafayette County a wonderful place to live, work and visit.