Press Release
Texas AHEC East employee is passionate about sharing “lessons learned”’ with students in her hometown.
Galveston October 7, 2014 When Leah Jacobs, Data Coordinator for Texas AHEC East, is not at UTMB overseeing the collection and validation of AHEC activities by nine regional operations, she is likely actively investing in Port Arthur students through her involvement with the Port Arthur Alumni Community Group.
Leah is the Director of the group of young professionals who are all alumni of the Port Arthur Independent School District. Their mutual determination to help the youth of Port Arthur by sharing information and describing lessons learned “that we wish someone would have told us prior to high school graduation” resulted in the organization’s founding.
“I had the idea for years. I was just unsure if I could pull it off. When my high school friends and I got together, we would always talk about different things we learned in our college and life experiences. I just kept thinking, what if we told them these things now, instead of just stumbling upon them like we did? So I spent time researching and reached out to the National Mentoring Partnership for advice. One of the directors, Linda Stewart, gave me some great advice and then I knew it was up to me to make it happen. I pitched the idea to family and friends who all thought it was a great idea and were very supportive. We ‘formed’ in November 2011 and had our first event in January 2012. The event was the first of our monthly Saturday Sessions, where we discussed Goal Setting and Self Determination and the kids created vision boards. In 2013-2014, we reached over 400 youth in Port Arthur and Beaumont. We partnered with some great organizations, began highlighting Port Arthur natives around the world in our ‘small town, BIG People’ Blog Project on our website, and had 4 front page news articles.”
The community group has validated their mission of empowering and encouraging the youth of Port Arthur by exposing them to professions, arts, and philosophies. Held at the Port Arthur Public Library or the Westside Development Center the monthly “Saturday Sessions” topics are designed to evoke kid conversation concerning issues that matter to them. The sessions encourage mentor/mentee relationships that help the youth develop personally and professionally. Past workshops and presentations include the 13th Annual Texas Youth Advisory Summit, Port Arthur Independent School District Jumpstart Program, and the Epsilon Theta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Emerging Leaders Summit to name a few.
Leah maintains the website social media networks and writes newsletters emphasizing the programs offered by the Port Arthur Alumni Community Group. Now her audience can become actively engaged in the camaraderie among students and Port Arthur’s own.
Leah’s unshakeable commitment to her hometown youth is true to the group’s MOTTO: OUR city. OUR kids. OUR mission.
Learn more about how you can participate, volunteer or sponsor the program’s initiatives by visiting the website http://www.portarthuracg.org/