Pontiac, Michigan (July 19, 2007 ) --Michigan Youth Leadership Academy...In January of 2007, Michigan State Police Sergeant Bennie F. Bowers Jr. met with Pontiac Police Chief Valard Gross to present the concept of the Academy. The Academy will take thirty at risk boys from the Pontiac School District, 14 to 16 years of age up to the Michigan State Police training center in Lansing Michigan for a week. During this weeklong experience the students selected will interact with Police Officers from their community, learning character development, leadership skills, first aid, military drills, patrols and water safety. The core principals of the Leadership Academy are RESPONSIBILITY, RESPECT and TRUST.

The City of Pontiac is one of seven cities of promise, designated by Governor Graholm to receive the Program.  Pontiac's Michigan Youth Leadership Academy is schedule for the week of July 29, 2007 to August 3, 2007.         

Pontiac Police Chief Valard Gross has committed nine Officers, resources, and has earmarked $14, 000.00 of drug forfeiture funds, so that young men from the City Of Pontiac can take advantage of this opportunity. 

When the Pontiac School District learned of the program, they jumped at the opportunity to participate. The Pontiac School District wanted to increase the number of student selected from thirty to forty at risk young men. The School District has committed money and staff members to travel to Lansing with those young men selected for the Michigan Youth Leadership Academy.                   

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