Leadership Batesville Learns About Healthy Living and Well-Being

June 7, 2022 (Batesville, AR) — The Leadership Batesville program, presented by Citizens Bank, prepares emerging leaders to serve our community. Through shared experiences and frequent interactions, participants engage in a nine-month curriculum inspired by the community-developed IMPACT Independence County strategic plan. 

At their June session, participants learned about the vision of the Healthy Living and Wellbeing hub's goals in a hands-on fashion. Our community's Healthy-Living and Wellbeing vision is for Independence County to be the healthiest county in Arkansas, committed to keeping residents active and physically and emotionally well.

The agenda for the day included a tour of the Batesville Community and Aquatics Center with a discussion of adding additional recreational program opportunities for teens led by Parks and Recreation Department Programs and Activities Coordinator Lowen Lermitte.

Next, the class visited Batesville Preschool to learn about the Excel by 8 initiative designed to improve health and education outcomes for children, presented by Michelle Puckett, Preschool Director.

Participants then met with Southside Charter High School Mental Health Awareness Foundation Team members, including Superintendent Dion Stevens, Principal Jimmy Hodges, and a friendly emotional support therapy dog named Jaxie. They presented the leadership class with information on the new club created to promote the healthy minds of students. The student-led initiative is sponsored by career coach and counselor Jennifer Ford.

The session ended with a float trip on the Polk Bayou with help from Lyon College's Director of Outdoor Education and Recreation, Cassandra Mays.

To learn more about Leadership Batesville and IMPACT, please visit batesvilleareachamber.com.