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Wilmington Chamber of Commerce Receives Award for Career and Leadership Development Academy
The Wilmington NC Chamber of Commerce Career and Leadership Development Academy (CLDA) has been awarded the 2024 Association in Leadership Programs (ALP) Excellence in Innovation Award. This prestigious recognition was presented during the ALP National Conference, held August 5-8, 2024, in Providence, Rhode Island.
The Excellence in Innovation Award celebrates outstanding creativity, uniqueness, and impact within community leadership programs. The Career and Leadership Development Academy was selected for its groundbreaking approach to bridging the gap between traditional education and real-world career preparation, directly addressing the critical need for a skilled workforce in the Wilmington, North Carolina area.
"We are thrilled to honor the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce and its Career and Leadership Development Academy with this award," said Lura Hammond, Executive Director of the Association of Leadership Programs. "The CLDA exemplifies the kind of innovative thinking and impactful programming that drives positive change in communities. Their work not only prepares students for future success but also strengthens the bonds between education, industry, and community."
Innovation Highlights:
● Early Career Outreach: CLDA's unique focus on engaging middle school students in career and leadership development has set a new standard for early career education. By reaching students at a formative age, the program fosters a strong foundation for their future academic and professional success.
●Business Partnerships: CLDA has forged strategic partnerships with local businesses in high-growth industries, ensuring that students receive hands-on, immersive experiences that align with real-world job market demands.
●Expansion and Scalability: Responding to overwhelming demand, CLDA has expanded its reach to include all 1,740 seventh graders in the county, supported by the North Carolina state legislature. This expansion underscores the program's scalability and its potential as a model for other communities.
● Leadership and Skill Development: The academy goes beyond traditional career exploration by integrating future-ready skills such as adaptability, collaboration, critical thinking, and leadership into its curriculum, preparing students to thrive in an ever-evolving workforce.
"We, at the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, are excited to have received this award. It is very rewarding to know that all the hard work we have put in to growing this program, securing necessary funding, and working with industry partners is making an impact on our community locally and influencing others across the country," said Laura Brogdon-Primavera, Vice President of Leadership Development at the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. “This award is a testament to the importance of growing some key industries here in Wilmington. There is still more work to be done to continue enhancing the program and ensuring it continues for all future 7th grade students in New Hanover County Schools.”
About CLDA
The ten-month program allows 7th-grade students to explore local career clusters, identify their top career choices, experience various job roles, and present their findings to their peers. The program is free for students and includes meals, transportation, and all necessary program materials. In its first year, the CLDA was funded by the Truist Foundation and included 40 students. In the second year, funding from the New Hanover Community Endowment and the Wilmington Chamber Foundation allowed the program to expand to 88 students. The third year will see a significant expansion, with nearly 1,800 7th grade students participating, thanks to funding from the North Carolina General Assembly.
