ARPC officer completes civic leader training

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  • By Mike Molina
  • Editor
DENVER --  Maj. Eric Levesque, chief of the Air Reserve Personnel Center's Selection Board Division was one of 32 local leaders to graduate from the Aurora Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Aurora program in June.

"In the Air Force, we do a lot of military training, but we don't get much civic training," Major Levesque said. "This gave me an opportunity to get leadership experience in the community we live in."

The training is a 10-month community leadership program whose participants are selected from a cross-section of experiences and backgrounds, including: police officers, firefighters, military personnel, business owners and local politicians.

The program includes a two-night retreat and eight full-day sessions held once a month from October through May.

During each session, experts from organizations throughout the community present topics covering various subjects, including: community and quality of life, education, criminal justice, healthcare, economy, infrastructure, military and government.

"It gives you a better understanding of the community," Major Levesque said. "With the diversity of topics, you get to see the challenges and opportunities that our communities face."

Each class also completes a project where students seek to find a solution to a community challenge.

This year's class partnered with Aurora Mental Health Center to furnish and renovate transitory housing for homeless veterans. To see the story of this year's graduating class project click here.

The class raised $32,000 in donations and furnished 15 rooms with hardware, bedding, lamps, kitchenware, couches and a television.

"We got great support from a variety of organizations," Major Levesque said.

This year's graduating class marked the program's 25th anniversary at the Aurora Chamber of Commerce.

"I think everyone can benefit from this experience," Major Levesque said. "The Air Force builds better leaders when we get more participation in events like this."