ATLANTA (Oct. 12, 2021) | Sen. Sonya Halpern (D – Atlanta) recently completed the Center for the Advancement of Leadership Skills (CALS) program in Little Rock, Arkansas. Inaugurated in 2007, CALS is the annual leadership program of the Southern Office of The Council of State Governments.
Each year, CALS brings together select officials from three branches of government in 15 Southern states to refine their leadership skills in a nonpartisan environment. The program focuses on communication, conflict resolution, consensus building and critical decision-making. Ultimately, CALS aims to provide the public with highly-skilled, educated and confident state leaders. This year’s program featured 24 legislators representing 13 states.
“The people of the 39th elected me to lead,” said Sen. Halpern. “Having already had a productive first session, I am eager to go into my second one with these new tools to do even more for my constituents. We are facing more complex and challenging times than ever as legislators, and this leadership training guarantees that my next session will be one to watch.”
The 2021 program agenda included sessions on leadership and communication styles, conflict management, creating a culture of ethics and, excellence and leading across generations. Brandon Fleming, the Founder, and CEO of the Atlanta-based Harvard Debate Council Diversity Project, delivered the final keynote address.
Founded in 1933, The Council of State Governments (CSG) is the nation’s only organization serving all three branches of state government. Opened in 1959, the mission of CSG’s Southern Office is to promote and strengthen intergovernmental cooperation among its 15 member states, predominantly through the programs and services provided by its Southern Legislative Conference (SLC).
For more information on the program, visit www.slcatlanta.org/CALS.
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For Immediate Release:
Oct. 12, 2021
Katelyn Bickett, Communications Associate
404.656.0028