Greater Shreveport Chamber welcomes 46 students to Youth Leadership Class

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – 46 high school juniors and seniors from Caddo Parish Public Schools (CPPS) headed to the Greater Shreveport Chamber (GSC) on Wednesday, September 3, to commence the 2025 Greater Shreveport Youth Leadership Program.

The students participated in a full-day retreat at the GSC building, which included exercises in team building and cooperation in partnership with Simulated Society (SimSoc).

“SIMSOC is an interactive program designed to help students experience leadership, communication, and problem-solving in a collaborative environment,” a press release stated. “Participants worked in teams with peers from different schools to navigate challenges, share ideas, and practice decision-making as they worked to create a functioning society.”

CPPS Superintendent Keith Burton congratulated the students for their participation.

“The Greater Shreveport Chamber’s program serves as a bridge between classroom learning and real-world leadership,” Burton said. “When students sit with business and civic leaders, solve community challenges, and practice service, they gain the confidence, skills, and network to lead right here at home. Caddo Schools is proud to partner in this work, developing tomorrow’s workforce and the future leaders of our community.”

The year-long program aims to develop students into future civic and business leaders. This year’s students include:

“Our hope is that we can expose these students to all that Shreveport and Caddo Parish have to offer and inspire them to see themselves as a part of building our community’s future,” said Dr. Tim Magner, President of the Greater Shreveport Chamber. “This retreat allows students to begin to create connections across the community and encourage a renewed commitment to serving and leading in their own schools and communities.”