Luisa Agathon, Senior Management Fellow Office of Neighbor Support, recognized the participants in the first City of Fort Lauderdale's Neighbor Leadership Academy Class.  Ms. Agathon announced Hal Barnes, Neighbor Support Manager, and Barbara Weinstein, Board Member of the Council of Civic Associations.  The goal of the Neighbor Leadership Academy is to build community leaders.  The first 20 participants in the Neighbor Leadership Academy are from all four Districts and were selected in conjunction with the Council of Civic Associations.  The participants are ready to put their learned skills into action and will be organizing a Meet Your Neighbor Block Party in September 2017 as part of a Community Service Project.

Ms. Agathon presented each participant with a City of Fort Lauderdale Neighbor Leadership Academy Certificate and a Neighbor Support Pin in recognition of their participation.  The recipients included:

Wendy Ballantine-Willis - Edgewood

Esthel Brennan - Riverside Park

Peter Cooper - Coral Ridge Country Club

Laura Depenbrock - Imperial Point

Gina Fitzpatrick - Middle River Terrace

Roy Grimsland - Coral Ridge

Diana Hanford - Knoll Ridge Homeowners

Isaphene Knowles - Melrose Park

Frankie Lane - Rock Island

Anthony McFann - Poinsettia Heights

Marie McLaughlin - Tarpon River

Yelka Mikoliji - Lauderdale Isles

Pamela Miller - Harbordale

John Mulroy - Poinsettia Heights

Michelle Nunziata - Flagler Village

Damon Pointer - Victoria Park

Sherri Sloan - Croissant Park

Cathy Stubbs - Melrose Manor

Samantha Thomas - Shady Banks

Dennis Ulmer - Lauderdale Manors

Dennis Ulmer, Lauderdale Manors, addressed the Commission thanking Staff and noting next month would be his 50th year as a resident.  He stated he was honored to be part of this class and acknowledged the strength of the neighborhoods, the support by Staff and the Commission.

Damon Pointer, Victoria Park, discussed this opportunity that allowed him to become involved locally and civically, confirming successful neighborhoods involve participation from both neighbors and the civic community.   Mr. Pointer stated this class allowed him to adopt his own leadership style, recognize others, and work to bring multiple groups together for a consensus.  He thanked the Commission, Ms. Agathon and all participants in the program for making this a reality.