When you think about your community’s future, what concerns you the most?

That’s the first question Ed O’Malley, Kansas Leadership Center(KLC) President/CEO, asked the Hays Area Young Professionals (HAYP) during Tuesday’s Eagle Communications Professional Development Series at Fort Hays State University.

The HAYP group, and members of the Leadership Hays 2012 class who were also in the audience, listed a number of concerns, ranging from declining population, to affordable housing and job creation and retention.  O’Malley noted these are areas  likely crying out for leadership.  Then he asked the audience what keeps them from making progress in those areas of concern.

O’Malley oversees all KLC operations.  It’s funded with a $30 million grant from the Kansas Health Foundation.  The Wichita-based KLC is charged with cultivating civic leadership all across Kansas to ultimately improve the health of all Kansans.

O’Malley, 38, says leadership can be learned by people of any age, starting with children who can be taught the concepts through team sports.

We’ll find out more about the Kansas Leadership Center tonight on Street Beat Eagle Community TV Channel 14.