There is a very unique opportunity available at USU Eastern called Eastern Leaders Academy (ELA). Castle Country Radio was able to sit down with Director of Community and Campus Engagement, Brad Watson to get all the details about this new program.

“There are two primary reasons why we decided to go with Eastern Leaders Academy. One is our community is at a tipping point, energy is dramatically changing, we’ve had power plants say they’re going to close here probably in 2032. So we’re at a point where we need leaders in our community who can be successful as change is about to happen. We need changemakers, innovators, and we need people with vision,” stated Watson. We have great people in place now but ALA is looking for emerging leaders who have a vision about their community and where its headed.

“The second reason why is that we have seen recently a lot of divides even in local communities, and right now we are not seeing that in Carbon County and we want to continue that, that way. We want leaders who can work together, who can see things as they really are and help the whole. So that’s the why of Eastern Leadership Academy,” stated Watson. This program is limited to 14 members each year, and the academy is designed to empower participants to make change within their community. Membership is $1,500.00 for the full year and includes a two-day trip to Salt Lake City for State Government Days in February.

This nine-month training schedule kicks off in September with monthly Experience Days scheduled till May of next year.  “In those nine months, once a month, we will have what are called Experience Days. Those Experience Days run from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, it’s a full day of experience on each of those days. Each month has a theme that will go along with that day. So that these emerging leaders can experience some things in our community at a very deep level. Now these days are not meant to be little field trips, they are meant to be very impactful. This is not come sit in a classroom, this is to go out and see where things are taking place in our community,” explained Watson. Experience Days are designed to unite elected officials, economic developers and other civic-minded leaders to provide an understanding of current and complex issues for established and future leaders to understand.

“We are very excited for what this can do for emerging leaders. Let me just say, what is an emerging leader? Well, we don’t have a great answer for that but we do know its people who are 25 and older, and like I said earlier not for college students, but that emerging leader may be 55. Hey I’m interested in doing a business and this could really help me understand the business community and how I work with government, all those kinds of things. That’s an emerging leader. I may be 35 or I may be 65, so age does not matter, its weather or not this person who thinks in the future, I’m going to be more involved, I’m going to be more engaged, because I love this community,” stated Watson. Participants will gain the foundational knowledge and experience to contribute to a positive change in the community with the opportunity to connect with many diverse groups and organizations.

To apply to be a member of the Eastern Leaders Academy visit https://eastern.usu.edu/ela/ or for further details call Brad Watson at (435) 613-5587.