State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-Peoria) has been selected to participate in the Edgar Fellows initiative to promote responsible and responsive leadership throughout Illinois. Led by former Gov. Jim Edgar and the University of Illinois’ Institute of Government and Public Affairs (IGPA), Gordon-Booth will be one of 40 fellows gathering in August at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
“I am honored to have been named one of the 2013 Edgar Fellows,” Gordon-Booth said. “I know from my own experience that our community is stronger when lawmakers from different backgrounds work together. I look forward to meeting and learning from other participants from across the state.”
Gordon-Booth was one of forty Edgar Fellows selected from more than 160 nominees. Nominees included elected and appointed government officials, non-profit leaders, and entrepreneurs. The objectives of the Edgar Fellows initiative are to enhance leadership skills and promote understanding, networking and cooperation across regional, partisan and ethnic lines as the fellows proceed with their public-service careers.
During the program Gordon-Booths will participate in executive training and learn from policy experts in a variety of fields, such as health care and transportation. After the session is complete, the Fellows will remain involved with periodic briefings on major policy issues, such as health care and government finance.
“I am confident these emerging leaders representing the great diversity of our state will become friends. They will realize that they have much in common and appreciate differences in perspective. They will form bonds and sharpen leadership skills that should help them solve problems as they assume even more responsibility,” former Gov. Jim Edgar said. “As we have seen with the 2012 Fellows, relationships and trust build as they recognize they must work together to help promote progress in their communities and our state.”
For more information, please contact Gordon-Booth’s full-time constituent service office at (309) 681-1992 or by e-mailing repjgordon@gmail.com.