Young Professionals Develop Servant Leaders

Young Professionals (YP) began over dinner in August 2012 when eight friends stepped out on faith to begin a movement in South Florida. They set out to create a community of young professionals, focused on servant-leadership, who serve their employers, colleagues and community with a TEAM mentality, humility, excellence, mentorship and vision. Headed by Cam Rogers, an associate at Rogers, Morris & Ziegler, LLP and co-led by Jonathan Osborne, business litigation attorney with Gunster, the group centers on three objectives: to connect, develop and serve.

 

Developing relationships

To young professionals, relationships are everything, so YP hosts monthly social events and is growing a community of customer-service oriented professionals, who serve each other and their colleagues. What defines a young professional? Rogers said it includes anyone in the first 15 years of his or her career.
To develop, the group meets on Wednesday evenings in the Global Grille, 301 E. Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, for faith-based servant-leadership training as they spend time in the Word of God and study curriculum geared for young professionals. Facilitating connections between young professionals and God, they prepare to better serve and lead at work and in the community. They will often tailor their meetings to focus on different careers, such as teaching.
Through quarterly Spotlight events, YP welcomes other professionals throughout South Florida to join them for networking with a purpose, sharing dinner and engaging in a broader conversation about servant leadership brought by an influential community leader.
Finally YP participates in monthly service projects with partners such as 4Kids of South Florida, Habitat for Humanity, Sheridan House and the YMCA.

 

Thanksgiving Potluck

On November 16 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., YP will host its third annual Thanksgiving Potluck Block Party located on SE 11th Ave. in Fort Lauderdale between S.E. 6th Ct. and S.E. 7th St. Young professionals who wish to attend should bring a covered dish or dessert to share and a canned food item for a food drive to benefit The Pantry of Broward, Inc. A great social event for visitors to check out the group, Rogers said last year’s Thanksgiving Potluck was attended by about 100 people.
According to Osborne, “Our young professionals are together for the journey. We’re like family.  We’re Christ followers and passionate about making a difference in every aspect of our lives and the lives of others we meet.”

 

Service Projects

In May, young professionals participated in the 4KIDS Big Cardio fundraiser by completing the 5K Run as a team. They attended the Chick Fil-A Leadercast, and in another YP Serves project, young professionals visited 4Kids’ Safe Place and read children’s stories to the kids each night, as well as providing a hot meal, clothing items and other necessities.
On June 21, YP linked up with young professionals from Habitat for Humanity’s Youth Empowerment Program, Calvary YP and the Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce’s “Best” Committee to lend a “hand up” to four deserving homeowners through Habitat for Humanity.
In a partnership with the Kiwanis Club, young professional helped clean up the streets of Fort Lauderdale as servant leaders.
On September 20, YPs joined the AARP, Miami Dolphins, and hundreds of servant leaders of all ages to make one million lunches for folks in the community. They demonstrated that we are #STRONGTOGETHER.
And in September YP conducted a clothing drive, collecting gently used women’s and men’s business attire, work shoes and casual clothing.
“YP is focused on a counter cultural shift from self-serving leadership to Christ like Servant leadership,” said Rogers. “By serving our colleagues, employers, family and community, we lead.”

For more information on Young Professionals, visit www.facebook.com/YPServantLeaders.

For more articles by Shelly Pond, please visit goodnewsfl.org/author/shelly/

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