Posted on Apr 25, 2024 2:45:00 PM by Greater Green Bay Chamber
Happy National Volunteer Week! Established in 1974, this week recognizes the impact of volunteer service and the power of volunteers. The Greater Green Bay Chamber is fortunate to have many groups of volunteers that dedicate their time and talents to making our programs great. We are excited to feature these individuals in a special blog miniseries published this week. Today, learn more about Leadership Green Bay and the volunteer projects completed through the program that have transformed our community.
A long-standing program established in 1985, Leadership Green Bay convenes a cohort of professionals from a cross section of industries. In the last 40 years, 1,602 community leaders have come together to complete 199 projects in Greater Green Bay. Here's a look down Legacy Lane at a few of those projects.
Operation Facelift - Class of 1987
In a joint effort with Neighborhood Housing Service of Green Bay a massive volunteer effort involving homeowners, individuals, organizations and area businesses of general fix-up/clean-up projects in selected neighborhoods in the near west side of Green Bay.
Bay Beach Amusement Park Train Depot - Class of 1997
The team project is to facilitate the construction of a “Depot “ for the train ride attraction at Bay Beach Amusement Park. Individual sub-projects include the design development, material procurement, solicitation of construction bids, interior design (to include historical content), risk management, solicitation of funds for project expenses, solicitation of cultural interest in the enhancement of Bay Beach, and in particular, the Train Amusement.
Teen Leadership - Class of 1998
The team’s mission is to develop and implement a three-day workshop for Green Bay teens that focuses on cultivating personal, group and community leadership skills. The Greater Green Bay Chamber is preparing to celebrate the 26th class of teen leaders graduating from this program in May. Today, high school sophomores from Brown County meet once a month to learn about areas such as the history of our community, government, economic development, wellness, the environment, and much more.
Flags in Leicht Park - Class of 2006
The goal of the team project was to raise flags in the newly developed Leicht Park to celebrate the diverse ethnic groups and countries of origin that are found in Green Bay and surrounding areas today. Leicht Park is located along the west side of the Fox River in downtown Green Bay.
Lighting the Way to the Kroc - Class of 2011
The team decided to support and collaborates with the Ray and Joan Kroc Community Center. The center is a Community Center run by the Salvation Army and will benefit low income families on the east side of Green Bay. The team worked on lighting and installing cameras on the path that leads to the center for the safety of the children.
Olde North Neighborhood Community Garden - Class of 2014
In partnership with the Brown County UW-Extension office, the team is developing a vacant lot in the Olde North neighborhood of Green Bay into a community garden. This neighborhood is recognized as one of the most challenged neighborhoods in the City of Green Bay and is considered a food desert, meaning there is an extreme lack of access to healthy and affordable food within this area. The design of the garden will include raised beds, tabletop gardens, a children’s garden, pergola, walking path and fence. The team’s vision is that the garden will serve multiple needs for the neighborhood by not only providing healthy food, but also connecting neighbors together, providing educational opportunities for all age levels, especially youth, and offering tabletop gardens for individuals with disabilities.
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Stage at Whitney Park - Class of 2016
Their project was a stage at Whitney Park in downtown Green Bay. Whitney Park is used for the music in the park series as well as comedic entertainment. The stage will enhance the experience for those attending the park and provide a better venue for the performers. Congratulations to the Leadership Green Bay Class of 2016 Team #1 for raising over $28,000 to get the stage accomplished.
Playground at NEW Zoo & Adventure Park - Class of 2019
Our project is to replace the preschool playground at the NEW Zoo. There is only one designated playground for preschoolers (ages 2 to 6) and it is the original playground from 1994. In addition to laughter and fun, playgrounds offer many opportunities for children to develop physical, cognitive, sensory and social skills. In its current state, the play space is very limited for children with differing abilities. We aim to offer a more inclusive environment that encourages children and their families to play together and create lasting memories of their trip to the zoo. Our goal is to create an inviting space that incorporates a sensory-rich environment that is welcoming and user-friendly to young children of all abilities to engage, learn and explore.
Chappell Elementary School Orchard - Class of 2023
Team Five partnered with New Leaf Foods to plant an orchard at Green Bay School District’s Chappell Elementary. We solicited funds from employers of various team members, and thanks to their generosity, we are able to plant 6 fruit trees with the potential to further the project at another school. This has been a rewarding project, and we look forward to seeing the orchard thrive!