Our first Leadership Vicksburg session focused on City Leadership & Economic Development—and our class jumped right in!

We started with Habit 1: Be Proactive with Dr. Regina O’Leary of Vicksburg-Warren School District. From there, we reviewed project management skills and put that knowledge to work as each team completed its Project Charter for their community project.

Then came a little friendly competition! Teams tackled the Spaghetti & Marshmallow Challenge, building the tallest structure they could. Beyond the laughs, the activity highlighted important leadership lessons about teamwork, communication, creativity, adaptability and learning from failure. Scroll through the photos to find out which group won.

We then heard from leaders helping shape Vicksburg’s future: Pablo Diaz, Warren County Economic Developer; Dr. Jeff Holland, Executive Director of MCITy; Mayor Willis Thompson; Fire Chief Martin; and Police Chief Burns. Each shared insight into where our community is heading, projects on the horizon and the opportunities ahead.

And last but not least, a big thank you to Brick Street Market & Deli for tasty turkey and cheddar sandwiches with your special pickles!

One day down. Nine months of learning, leading, connecting and making an impact ahead!

What a great start to an exciting nine-month journey! The Leadership Vicksburg Class of 2026–2027 officially kicked off with a full day of getting to know one another, learning, teamwork, and exploring our community.

The class started by breaking the ice and building connections before receiving a warm welcome from @mayorwillisthompson and Supervisor Ed Herring.

Participants also got their first introduction to Project Management, began narrowing down ideas for their Community Projects, and formed teams around the projects that resonated most with their interests and passions.

And what better way to build teamwork than cooking lunch together? A big thank you to Tommy, Eli, and Adam from Tommy’s BBQ for leading the class through their first group project—preparing their own lunch!

The day wrapped up with a scavenger hunt around Vicksburg, giving participants the opportunity to learn more about our city’s past, present, and future.

Thank you to Sharonda Godbolt and Kristen Harris for sharing insights about prospective Community Projects and to Nicole Harris for kicking off our Project Management instruction.