In October, we welcomed Leadership Gainesville Class 47 to the LG family. Just like everything else in 2020, the kickoff looked a little bit different. However, this group certainly won’t be short on new and experimental opportunities. The program for class 47 has been created with safety and adaptability front of mind by creating a valuable and unique experience for the participants but also closely monitoring local, state, and CDC health and safety standards.

Class 47 took part in our very first Virtual Opening Mixer and Retreat. The program focused heavily on bonding and team building during these first sessions. On October 14, Leadership Gainesville met in-person for the first time since February.

Splitting the teams into smaller groups, everyone headed out across the county on a “municipalities” scavenger hunt. With help from local municipal leadership and Visit Gainesville, we sent our class to visit eight different communities within Alachua County where they had to find and photograph various items and landmarks. The groups visited many of places that they had never been before and had the opportunity to visit new retailers and restaurants!

After the cross-county tour, the class reconvened online where they had a chance to hear from municipal leaders as well as our partners Visit Gainesville and Gainesville Sports Commission.

November will be the K-12 Education and Social Services session of Leadership Gainesville. We are working closely with Alachua County Public School Administration to showcase not only how students are learning in this unprecedented time, but also the number of programs, services, and organizations that they provide and work with regularly to keep our youth safe and healthy.