Gwinnett Daily Post

LAWRENCEVILLE -- The Gwinnett Neighborhood Leadership Institute recently selected 25 rising leaders from throughout Gwinnett County to participate in an eight-month training program.

Participants come from all walks of life and represent diverse backgrounds, but they come together with a common goal: to promote civic change within Gwinnett County.

Throughout the program, which is in its 16th year, participants are trained through a series of comprehensive workshops to address community issues and required to develop community improvement projects based on the representing needs, according to a news release.

GNLI is a program of the Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services and is funded through the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners, the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Department, Jackson Electric Membership Corporation, Walton EMC, the Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District and other community sponsors.

This year's class includes the following people:

* Majonica Askew

* Arlene Beckles

* Rasalind Bennett

* Harold Brooks

* Safiya Byars

* Beauliere Champagne

* Millicent Crawford

* Sabrina Davis

* Jeanette Fermin

* Stephanie Garcia

* Ralph Jackson

* Queen Jackson

* Felicia Johnson

* Janelle Jonas

* Angela Lyons

* Micky McDaniel

* Kenneth Mims

* Patricia Nicholas

* LoyLene

Jefferson-Shaw

* Tim Simmons

* Alyssa Sinclair

* Cateena Smith

* Tricia Sung

* Kevin Thompson

* Juliann Wright