May 10, 2007

LIVINGSTON, Ala.—The University of West Alabama’s Regional Center for Community and Economic Development hopes to build a community of senior leaders in the Black Belt by providing training and instruction for volunteers through the Leadership Institute Program for Senior Adults.

Only the seventh program of its kind in the nation, the institute provides an insider’s view of the community through a series of bi-weekly classes designed to educate volunteers about the opportunities and challenges facing senior citizens in their area. These volunteers can then apply the knowledge and skills gained from the institute to serve as advocates for older adults.

“The goal of the institute is to empower older adults to help make their communities senior-friendly and better places to grow old,” said program director Ken Tucker. “The participants will learn how to gather information and communicate effectively as advocates, understand a variety of perspectives on aging and caregiving issues and help make life better, in general, for older people and their families in West Alabama.”

Experts in a variety of fields will lead the sessions, with topics including preventive medicine, geriatric behavioral health, public relations and public speaking, library resources, leadership principles, dementias, nutrition and exercise, spirituality/religion and aging and caring for the caregiver. Participants will also take several field trips as part of the leadership institute.

Sponsored in part by the Alabama-Tombigbee Area Agency on Aging and the Alabama Department of Senior Services, the leadership institute will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from May 29 through June 21 at UWA’s Bell Conference Center. Sessions will run from 9 a.m. until noon, with lunch served until 1 p.m. Registration for the free program runs until Friday, May 25 with a limited number of spots available. To receive an application, please contact Dr. Ken Tucker at 205-652-3417 or San Thompson at 205-652-3408.