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The Pike County Chamber of Commerce 2020-2021 Leadership Pike Class had the opportunity last week to explore several historic and fine arts sites in the county.

Pike County Chamber of Commerce President Dana Sanders said the Leadership Pike Class is comprised of young leaders in the 20 -and 30-age group who are employees of Chamber members.

“Those who are interested in being members of the Leadership Pike Class make application and are approved by an alumni committee and board members,” Sanders said. “The Leadership Pike class members are interested in learning more about the different sectors of our community, the importance of commerce and the role volunteer organizations play in the economic growth of our community.”

The members of Leadership Pike benefit from exposure to the business and industrial community, local governments and volunteer organizations.

Through this exposure, these young community leaders learn more about the community as a whole and how they may be better community partners, Sanders said.

The Leadership Pike Class visited several non-profit sites in Pike County related to the arts and to history that included the Pioneer Museum of Alabama, the Johnson Center for the Arts, the International Arts Center, the Tupper Lightfoot Memorial Library, the We Piddle Around Theater, the Karen Bullard Genealogical Research Center at the Troy Public Library and also had a meeting with Troy Mayor Jason A. Reeves. 

Class members are Kayla Wright, Isha Tarver, JR Eason, Janie Hall, Clint Free, Zachary Spann, David Norris, Solomon Bracket, Will Drinkard and Rochelle Haggins, Cody Eiland, Ivey Jones, Beth Bavaro, Connor Couch and Emily Aaron.

Abby Peters, tour leader, said the leadership class meets once a month to learn about what Pike County has to offer businesses and industries and the people who call it home.

“The class is made up of 16 individuals, some who were born, raised and stayed in Pike County and others who came here to work.”

Either way, Peters said, among the classmates, little was known about the art and historic opportunities available or the benefits that are derived from them.

“They were familiar with some of the sites we visited,” she said. “Others, they were not, and were surprised to learn about, including the We Piddle Around Theater which was a big hit. It was good to know that these arts and learning opportunities are available and to such a wide age and interest range.”

Peters is a 2018 graduate of the Pike Leadership Pike Class. As much as she learned about Pike County as a classmate, she said there continues to be many new things for her to learn about as well as for future leaders to learn, each month and each year.