Low-profile group shapes Alabama’s future

It isn’t always easy for Barbara Larson to explain the massive impact her nonprofit organization has had on the state over the past 25 years. She laughs that grant applications can sometimes be a challenge.

“When we try to talk about what Leadership Alabama does, it’s anecdotal,” Larson said. “But I know it’s true because I saw the people do it.”

Larson has served as the executive director since the beginning, and she has watched a parade of some of Alabama’s most influential people take ideas and inspiration from the annual leadership class — then build on them.

After Alabama’s educational challenges were spelled out for the first class in 1990, class members went on to start the A+ Education Partnership, which still works to shape education policy. Another class spawned a push for Alabama constitutional reform. Many members of Leadership Alabama have gone on to hold public office, and two are now in Congress.

Some of the impact has been more local and specific.

Dothan Mayor Alfred Saliba was inspired by the success of family resource center programs he heard about while in the second Leadership Alabama class in 1991. So he went back and started one in Dothan to provide social services and help strengthen families.

Larson saw the center last week while in town for a Leadership Alabama event.

“(Saliba) died two years ago, but the center is still thriving,” she said.

How does the program work? In much the same way it always has.

When Mike Jenkins and Bill Smith started Leadership Alabama, it was with the idea of bringing established leaders together to build toward progress by teaching them more about the state’s success stories, its challenges and their fellow Alabamians. That strategy hasn’t changed, despite new technology.

“You really have to have people together in the same room,” Larson said. “In this digital age, when people are used to (interacting online), you still need people together in the same room.”

There’s a focus on education, economic development, healthcare, government and politics. Politicians speak, including Gov. Robert Bentley who “is very candid, which is very interesting,” Larson said. Leaders from other states also share their experiences to give the class a broader perspective.

The class members are challenged to think critically about themselves and their ideas, and often step up to confront a specific topic.

“Once they get to the first meeting, they’re anxious to come back because we’re not wasting their time,” Larson said.

This year’s class includes Alabama State University President Gwendolyn Boyd, Alabama Department of Insurance Commissioner Jim Ridling and McConnell Honda & Acura President Forrest McConnell among several others. Classes will meet in Montgomery, Mobile, Huntsville and Birmingham starting in October.

After seeing the success stories that have played out from class No. 1 to class No. 25, Larson is ready to welcome class No. 26.

“The people change,” Larson said. “The caliber of the people and what they try to accomplish has not changed. We have people who want the state to be better.”