Leadership Programs
Our leadership programs include our Junior Leadership & Career Academy and Leadership Fort Smith programs. Each program is designed to expose its participants to the inner-workings of Fort Smith. Class members gain a backstage pass into the industries and organizations that support our infrastructure and economy, as well as seeing firsthand what makes our city thrive.
JUNIOR LEADERSHIP & CAREER ACADEMY (JLCA)
The Junior Leadership & Career Academy program is designed to develop leadership skills, career awareness, and personal growth of students going into the ninth grade. Students gain knowledge on positive and effective leadership and are instilled with a sense of community pride. We hope to inform and prepare these students to become our community’s future workforce. This team-based learning program introduces them to potential employers, as well as business and community leaders in our region.
JLCA Class of 2026
LEADERSHIP FORT SMITH (LFS)
The Leadership Fort Smith program provides a pathway to develop its participants for community leadership and decision-making by exposing them to the realities, opportunities, and problems in our metropolitan area. Each year, participants covered diverse topics such as healthcare, history, law, government, education, and other pertinent issues. Participants also learn more about economic development and have the opportunity to meet leaders who serve as the catalysts for growth in our region.
LFS Class of 2026
