There’s a new youth service provider in Franklin County whose stated mission is to turn today’s youth into tomorrow’s leaders.The service called Renovatio Youth Leadership Program; headed by Lois Mendez-Catlin its founder and executive director has a three-fold purpose. Catlin a two-year resident of St. George Island is married to Dr. Lionel Catlin who practices medicine at the Eastpoint Medical Clinic.
Renovatio is Latin for “rebirth”; primary goal is to provide underrepresented students with an opportunity to participate in leadership development programs that might otherwise be unavailable to them. The program provides high school students with the opportunity to review their life and accomplishments and set meaningful realistic goals to brighten their future.
Its secondary objective is to encourage these students to attend college, by providing them with the necessary experience to view college as a possibility and the tools needed to be successful while in college and ultimately to become engaged leaders.
Lastly, its third purpose is to nurture the student’s vision of civic engagement and provide them with the essential skills to become meaningful contributors to society and its quality of life.
In early August, Catlin invited me to visit the program to address the students during their summer retreat. I found a diverse group that included students from Texas, Pennsylvania, and Franklin County Florida. I used my time to have a candid conversation about goal setting, perseverance, and the need for voluntary public service.
Among other retreat activities, the students participated in college planning and taking both the SAT and ACT preparation tests.
Renovatio Youth Leadership Program is a member of both the Franklin County Community Partnership for Children & Youth Services and the Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce.
Student participation is through an application process, for more information email Lois Mendez-Catlin at
Photos by Gail D. Johnson
I must personally thank Mayor Van Johnson for the time he devoted to the leadership program. He enriched the lives and guided the focus of the program participants. They learned that as leaders they set their own goals, are limited only by themselves, must persevere in the face of challenging obstacles, must be a savvy and eloquent communicator, and (most importantly) a champion for the people.
ReplyDeleteThank you!!! Dr. Lois Mendez Catlin