The Asheville Institute on Leadership’s Summer Symposium 2006 will offer residents of the region a chance for reflection on the meaning of leadership and community during its first summer symposium June 27-28.  The two-day conference, which will focus on “Creativity, Innovation and Collaboration,” is open to adults, high school and college students.  Enrollment is limited; early registration is suggested.

During the symposium, participants will engage in a variety of sessions covering leadership topics such as globalization, emotional intelligence, media and the public interest, communication across differences, ethics and cultural competence.

Leadership expert Louise Kent will give the keynote talk on “Me to We Leadership.” This type of leadership involves focusing less on “me” and more on “we” – our communities, our nation and our world as a whole. Kent is the youth leadership coordinator for the international organizations Leaders Today and Free the Children, which is a partner in Oprah’s Angel Network.  A noted speaker and songwriter, Kent will draw upon her experience living in Africa and Southeast Asia in her message of social advocacy and justice.

Also speaking are sports figures including Darren Holmes, former pitcher for the Atlanta Braves; Kevin Cantwell, former associate head basketball coach for Georgia Tech; Bobby Purcell, executive director of the N.C. State Wolfpack Club; and  Brian Biro, former U.S. swimming team coach.

The Summer Symposium will be held in conjunction with a one-day conference on “Building Collaborative Leadership,” a regional forum on economic development and collaboration.  This event, hosted by the Leadership Asheville 24 class, will be held on Thursday, June 29, at UNC Asheville.

The conference is sponsored by Asheville Citizen-Times, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, Advanced Business Equipment, AdvantageWest-North Carolina, BB&T, Capital Bank, CarePartners Health Services, Carolina First Bank, Colton Groome & Company, First Charter, Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa, Macon Bank, Mission Hospitals, Mountain 1st Bank & Trust, WOXL-FM and YMCA of Western North Carolina.

For more information or to register, call Laura Shiver, UNC Asheville Leadership Programs Office, at 828/250-3869, e-mail aileadership@unca.edu or visit the Web site at www.unca.edu/leadership.