Camphill Kimberton ED Felicity Jeans among graduates of the Community Health Leadership Academy

New Community Leaders Celebrate 

article and photo courtesy of Phoenixville Community Health Foundation

It all started on September 4, 2013 when nine individuals began their leadership journey through the Community Health Leadership Academy. These committed community volunteers met one evening a week for 11 weeks, learning from experts, both locally and nationally based, on aspects of leadership. They have had to apply their new-found knowledge by developing a community service project that will benefit the greater Phoenixville community.

The students and their projects are: Karen Bearden who is re-designing the GRIMES after-school program; Robert Fedick, Jr. who is designing a web-based sharing program called “ShareOurStuff.org;” Felicity Jeans, Executive Director at Camphill Kimberton, who has instituted a Community Craft Conference for the Camphill communities; Kim Howard who has started her journey to develop Growing Up Farms to provide healthy foods to those in need; Christine Keisling has begun a campaign to ensure the Philadelphia Freedom YMCA is accessible to people of all abilities; Gloria Kelly is collaborating with meals programs and food cupboards to ensure access to all in need; and Margie Watson is developing an initiative called “Reclaiming Yourself” to empower teen girls against bullying and abuse.

l/r: Bob Fedick, Felicity Jeans, Gloria Kelly, [Lynn Hartman, PCHF] Karen Bearden, Margie Watson, Christine Keisling, Kim Howard

“The Community Health Leadership Academy is designed for adults who want to become more involved in their community,” said Lynn Pike Hartman, Phoenixville Community Health Foundation Vice President for Programs and Academy Facilitator. During the graduation luncheon at the Freedoms Foundation on November 26, Hartman encouraged all of the graduates to continue their leadership journey and their desire to create positive change in their communities. Hartman said, “I hope you have come to understand that leadership is not a one-size-fits-all jacket you can take off the hanger and put on. Instead it is personal qualities that show you to be a person of strength and integrity. Show the world, and this community, the true leaders that I know you are.”

The Community Health Leadership Academy is sponsored by the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation and the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations. The mission of the Academy is to provide a vehicle to identify, train and empower greater Phoenixville area citizens for leadership roles that promote our community’s health and advance its quality of life.

Dr. Louis Beccaria, President and CEO of the Foundation, addressed the graduates. Beccaria said. “This Academy is designed to grow future Champions of the Community, and with now 105 graduates, the program is having a positive impact on the greater Phoenixville community.”

For more information on the Community Health Leadership Academy please contact Lynn Pike Hartman, Vice President-Programs, Phoenixville Community Health Foundation at 610-917-9890 or LPHartman@pchf1.org.