The newest initiative of the Pacific Club Impact Foundation in Newport Beach has helped 150 middle school students from various backgrounds cultivate their leadership skills under the mentorship of local business executives.
The Impact Leadership Academy concluded its third workshop last month as students from Westminster, Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Costa Mesa and Newport Beach took part in the five-hour program at the Pacific Club.
“For many, this is the first time they’ve ever been selected for any type of school programming,” said Dr. Casey Cooper, director of youth programming for the Pacific Club Impact Foundation. “They feel so special and passionate about what they’re going to do next. Everyone leaves with a huge smile on their face.”
Sessions, Parents
The program is moderated by local executives and divided into three sessions in which students undergo a mock board meeting and job interview and handle a project without instruction from a facilitator. It’s designed to push students to explore how teams form and how to solve problems under a tight deadline.
Parents also are invited to attend to receive parenting tips and guidance on furthering their children’s education and navigating the challenges in applying for college.
Attorney Rebecca Callahan, who’s practiced corporate law for more than 30 years in Newport Beach, moderates the job interview session, which crosses a diverse set of topics, including interview techniques, resume building through high school activities, perceptions of body art and piercings, and mannerisms, such as maintaining eye contact and a positive attitude.
“They just absorb this stuff like a sponge,” said Callahan, a Pacific Club member since 2002 who runs Callahan Dispute Resolution and owns a paint ball manufacturing outfit in Anaheim.
She said she was deeply involved in her son’s education and extracurricular activities during his years at Foothill High School in Tustin. Callahan also witnessed many students there who didn’t have the same support or family structure that her son Alex enjoyed. Some had single parents working long hours or two jobs. Some parents didn’t have experience navigating the educational system, its policies or practices.
“He had a lot of opportunities because we were involved,” Callahan said of her son, now 29 and president of APX Gear, which generated about $3 million in sales last year.
The company is projected to hit $5 million in revenue this year and to boost its employee base to 25.
Lott Trophy
The academy, approved by the Orange County Department of Education, kicked off in October and has one remaining workshop in April geared for students in North Orange County. It is funded through the Lott Impact Trophy award, an annual event at the Pacific Club that recognizes a top college football defensive player who also exemplifies character, leadership and academic achievement.
The award is named after NFL Hall of Famer and University of Southern California star Ronnie Lott, a four-time Super Bowl champion with the San Francisco 49ers.
“We are really trying to recognize character through the Lott trophy and cultivate character through Impact Foundation leadership events,” said foundation founder and Chairman John Hamilton, a former Pacific Club president.
Hamilton said character is important. Each year in an 18-year stint running the nonprofit Newport Sports Museum, which closed last year, he brought in professional athletes to talk with students about the importance of education and staying out of trouble.
“At younger ages,” he said, “we can help the development of character.”
