Students, faculty and members of the community gathered on Saturday, Nov. 5, for the Leadership Conference at Moorpark College.
The conference focused on different methods of leadership, while discussing various leadership roles in the community. The event was a success, despite the low attendance, because it featured dynamic speakers from across the state and country.
“One of the most important things about leadership is taking a stand for the things that are important and getting involved in your community,” said Hugh Ralston, Director of the Ventura County Community Foundation, who made a presentation at the event.
Located on the Moorpark College Campus in the Physical Science building and the Campus Center, the conference lasted from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov 5. The event was hosted by MC’s Multicultural Club and sponsored by the Associated Students. The goal of the conference was to create unity on campus and in the surrounding community, according to the Multicultural Club President, Susanna Lucarelli, 23.
“We’re really hoping to make a positive stride towards increasing camaraderie amongst not only (members of the club), but on campus as well,” said Lucarelli, a journalism major at MC. “We pretty much want to increase awareness of social responsibility.”
Because the theme of the Leadership Conference was “Motivation Toward Social Responsibility,” Lucarelli stressed that the event was put together to show people how to lead by example and be positive members of society.
“I think (the result) was beyond excellent,” said Sharon Miller, the Associated Students Advisor at Moorpark College. “I’m so sorry that so many students missed out on this opportunity. (It was) well worth a Saturday morning.”
Speakers like Jessica Mendoza, a US Olympic Team member, and Dr. Mark Taplette of Texas A&M University, discussed specific topics. Mendoza discussed women’s roles in leadership, while Dr. Taplette talked about the roles of minorities in leadership positions today. The subjects discussed were varied, in order to include everyone in the community.
“People don’t care about how much you know, until they know how much you care,” said speaker Andre Coleman, Interim Dean at Whittier College. Coleman talked about the different types and styles of leadership, concentrating primarily on the importance of being a charismatic leader.
Additional topics were presented by other speakers, including the inspirational Tony Magee, author of “Can’t Shove a Great Life into a Small Dream.” Magee’s workshop was directed toward students and showcased the importance of leadership qualities as well as powerful keys of effective student leadership. He gave a riveting presentation as the keynote speaker and insisted that leaders are not born, they are made.
“Few people are successful unless other people want them to be,” said Magee. “We were born with abilities, and the whole world, not just your neighborhood, is waiting on you to produce your very best.”
