September 29, 2005 Source: Royal Roads University:
http://www.royalroads.ca/about-rru/the-university/news-events/news-releases/2005/gemini-project.htm Leadership Program at Royal Roads Pairs Street Smart Youth with Business Professionals Business savvy is meeting up with street smarts in a unique leadership program launched this week at Royal Roads University that brings together corporate leaders with young people challenged by difficult socio-economic circumstances. It's the first Canadian offering of The Gemini Project, a unique program that taps into individual strengths to build stronger, more dynamic and intuitive leaders. "Gemini's mix of applied leadership and practical experience caught our attention," says Graham Dickson, director of RRU's School of Leadership Studies. "The program builds on our university's commitment to applied learning and leadership development." The Gemini Project is being offered by Royal Roads in partnership with the Roy Group, whose senior partner, Ian Chisholm, is the program's co-creator. "The idea of reciprocal mentoring sets the program apart," says Chisholm. "People from two very different sets of experiences come together to learn from, challenge and support each other. At the end of the program participants are surprised at how much they have learned from each other." Chisholm developed the program in Scotland at the Columba 1400 Community and International Leadership Institute on the Isle of Skye. Corporate participants include Ernst & Young, The Royal Bank of Scotland and Scottish Power. In Canada, Cisco Systems Canada is the corporate sponsor of this session. "By participating in innovative programs like The Gemini Project, Cisco aims to bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace," says Terry Walsh, president, Cisco Systems Canada. "Mentoring youth in this way helps ignite their interest and explore future career opportunities, and it gives Cisco employees a chance to contribute to success in our communities." Youth participants in this week's program come from across Western Canada and range in age from 17 to 30. Twenty-nine-year-old Tyler Hallett, who has been selling his poems on the streets of Victoria for the past three years, says he hopes participation in The Gemini Project will help him successfully launch a publishing and music production company. "For the first time, my background is actually a strength," says Hallett. "It was something that actually helped me get into the program, rather than hold me back." Gemini's intensive blend of leadership and coaching development uses both formal and informal methods. For example, participants will attend workshops on topics such as communications and conflict resolution and participate in activities that include a hiking expedition and a kayaking excursion. Members of both groups are developed to coach someone from the other stream. For more information on the program see www.royalroads.ca. For more information on the Roy Group see www.roygroup.net. For media queries, contact:
Communication Manager, Stephanie Slater
stephanie.slater@royalroads.ca 250.391.2712, cel 250.361.5020
or,
Communications Officer, Phil Saunders
phil.saunders@royalroads.ca 250.391.2526, cel 250.812.5065
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