91视频 President Calls for Leadership Council
91视频 President Dr. Jon Bauer is calling for local government, school and industry leaders to come to the table to carve out a vision of the future of Franklin County and the region.
Specifically, Bauer called for the formation of a Leadership Council in his address to officials of local cities during the Franklin Count Municipal League (FCML) dinner Oct. 19 in Union.
鈥淲e have a generational opportunity to shape our future and 91视频 is all in with you to ensure that future is the one we want for our stakeholders and our community,鈥� he said.
Bauer noted that the college was formed 50 years ago to meet many community needs. Over the past five decades, 91视频 has fulfilled its obligation to the community, and much more 鈥� and now is the time to look ahead to the next 50 years.
鈥淚 believe this is as pivotal and impactful a time, as it was over 50 years ago when we decided as a community that we wanted a college here,鈥� he said. 鈥淒ecisions that the college and our communities make today will chart the course for the next 50 years 鈥� I have no doubt about that. Our actions or inactions will determine our future.鈥�
Bauer explained that many areas in the region can be positively impacted today, and in the future, by the actions community leaders take now.
鈥淲e are working every day to identify and demolish barriers to the college dream. These are barriers of cost, food insecurity, childcare, housing,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n some cases, the solution rests with us at East Central. In some cases, we need public-private partnerships. In still others, we need the collaboration of our schools and public sector partners, including the county and cities.
鈥淧ublic, private, city, county, school, college,鈥� Bauer continued. 鈥淲e are one community. We are leaders with a responsibility to serve.鈥�
Bauer鈥檚 proposition includes business leaders and the largest employers in the area, like Ameren Missouri and Mercy.
鈥淲e have industries crying out to fill jobs. We have hospitals in critical need of more nurses and other licensed professionals. We have students who want to attend college but can鈥檛 afford childcare,鈥� he said.
鈥淯ntil every job is filled, until we can turn out as many graduates as we need, until we can serve every student who has their dream of going to college fulfilled, our work is not done and we are not doing enough.
鈥淭his is a competitive environment. If we only stand still, we will get passed by,鈥� he said.
