CEO Summit a success
High school students attract a crowd to seminar; also, Black Pearls featured at art association
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The CEO Summit filled plenty of seats at Crossroads Community Church on Jan. 25, as four speakers shared their wisdom thanks to the hard work of some future business professionals. The event, organized and conducted by high school students in the Kokomo CEO program, showed that the next generation is prepared to make its mark on the local community.
Four speakers took to the stage to share experiences and wisdom with the crowd, including personal branding expert Derek Laliberte, national chair of 9/11 Families United Terry Strada, former Indiana Mr. Basketball and president of TBL David Magley, and workplace strategist and author Jeff Butler.
Those in attendance found value in what was presented.
“I thought the speakers were really good and inspiring,” said Amanda Glenn, attending with a contingent from Bona Vista. “I think the summit is really great. It is my first time here, and I am enjoying it.”
“I thought the event was outstanding,” said Kokomo Common Councilman Tony Stewart. “I appreciated hearing from the speakers and their unique ideas about things like the importance of video in marketing and how different generations see things.
“I think Kokomo CEO is a great program. My daughter attended it last year. The kids do an awesome job, and the summit is something Kokomo can look forward to each year. More people should come out to it because they provide some really great information.”
The entire summit was planned and executed by youth involved in the Kokomo CEO, a program which is designed to connect students with local leaders and to teach them the skills needed to start a business. There are 19 students in the current cohort receiving real-life experience to become entrepreneurs.
Kokomo CEO meets in the mornings five days a week over the course of the school year. It is a class that earns credits toward high school graduation, but it has a facilitator rather than a teacher. And it meets in local businesses and board rooms instead of a classroom.
The ultimate goal of Kokomo CEO is to have the participants take what they learn over the course of the year and apply that knowledge to create a business of their own.
Applications are now being accepted to join the 2024 Kokomo CEO class. Interested students should visit www.kokomoceo.com to begin their application. The deadline for application submission is Feb. 3.
‘Black Pearls’ at KAA Feb. 3
The Kokomo Art Association will kick off Black History Month in Kokomo with a special exhibition entitled “Black Pearls,” featuring the city’s venerable local talents, illuminating “Black Wisdom, Beauty and Culture” at Artworks Gallery on Feb. 3.
The opening reception from 6-9 p.m. will feature music by Jazz pianist Christopher Washington, refreshments, thought-provoking art, and a book signing.
Local author Reba Harris, who also serves as executive director of the Gilead House, will feature her new book, “Living Life After the Fires of my Sorrows.” She will make an appearance to sign her book, which will be available for purchase at the event.
February’s featured Artworks Gallery artist will be ethnographer and ethnomusicologist Robin Williams, presenting a photography exhibit on traditional Jazz Funerals, “Love is a Second-Line: Celebration of Life in New Orleans.” Williams’ work documenting Black culture has been featured at the Smithsonian Institution and the Center for Black Literature and Culture in Indianapolis.
A special group exhibition on the second floor of the gallery will feature dynamic works of several local and regional artists, including J.C. Barnett III, Shailyn Nash, Tashema Davis, Sunday Majaha, and Ramona Daniels.
Daniels currently serves as the Artworks Gallery coordinator and curator for this exhibition. Over the last several years she has personally witnessed the trajectory of Kokomo’s artistic landscape change for the better, becoming more inclusive.
“As a local artist, I believe in raising the bar after each accomplishment so that other artists in this community will have access to the same or better opportunities,” Daniels emphasized. “Through ‘Black Pearls’ we will spotlight and amplify the wisdom, beauty, and cultural diversity that exists right here in our own backyard. We are excited to share these treasured talents with the greater community.”
KAA’s “Black Pearls” exhibition will run from Feb. 3-25 at Artworks Gallery, 210 N. Main St. For more information, contact the Gallery at 765-459-4579.