A Bright Future

BY EUGENIA JOHNSON-SMITH AND BRIANNA STEPHENS

The future of tomorrow begins with the emerging leaders of today. Through opportunities like the programs offered through the Leadership Kentucky Foundation, Kentuckians can take an active role in advancing the state, grow to have a better understanding of the state’s issues, and forge new relationships among community and regional leaders.

“Leadership Kentucky opened my eyes to areas of our state that I had not had connection with or lived in or worked in and really helped me appreciate the importance of giving back,” said Elmer Whitaker, president/CEO of Whitaker Bank and graduate of Leadership Kentucky, one of four programs offered through the foundation.

After graduating from the program and serving on the board for the foundation, Whitaker, a native of Eastern Kentucky, wanted to create an opportunity to inspire others in leadership development in the Appalachian region. His dream became reality through the establishment of a new Kentucky Leadership program. BRIGHT Kentucky focuses on building the next generation of leaders in the Appalachian region of the state, bringing people from the 54 Appalachian counties in Kentucky together to innovate, collaborate, and advance community and economic development.

Some of the topics BRIGHT’s curriculum touches on include how jobs are created, how community development enhancement occurs, how grants and other financial resources are achieved, how to navigate political relations, regional topics, and more. The program includes five sessions in which participants travel to different parts of the region to learn about and experience other communities and industries.

“My ultimate goal was to inspire people to get more engaged, much like I did coming out of the Leadership Kentucky program, so that they would take more of their free time and invest it back not just into themselves but entire communities,” Whitaker said.

According to Whitaker, a high number of program participants have gone on to excel in their careers, run for public office, and take leadership roles in civic organizations.

Lauren Weaver, a senior administrative assistant for Christian Appalachian Project (CAP), participated in and graduated from BRIGHT Kentucky in 2023. A proud Appalachian native with a heart for service, she found the experience inspiring and encouraging when thinking about the future of the region.

“We have to stop competing and isolating our communities. We need to start collaborating and communicating with each other,” Weaver said. “The program exposed us to community leaders who shared their experiences and challenges with us and inspired us to do the hard things, have the hard conversations, and advocate for the unconventional when it benefits the region.”

Each session connected Weaver with other likeminded leaders who can work together to help create a brighter future for Appalachia. “The sessions gave me the confidence to be vocal, push my ideas out there, and work with strategic partners. It encourages me so much,” she said.

While BRIGHT Kentucky inspires deeper conversation and understanding, Whitaker hopes the program motivates emerging leaders to take pride in their communities and to take action to promote growth and success.

“We focus a lot of energy on the fact that, at the end of the day, when you put all those things together, you have to have action,” Whitaker said. “Without action, it’s all just talk and vision. I love vision, and I love talking, but at the end of the day, I like to see action.”

BRIGHT Kentucky is in its seventh year as a program. To learn more about BRIGHT and other Kentucky Leadership Foundation programs, visit leadershipky.org.