Through her work in the arts, Leah Hamilton Jenkins seeks to influence not only children but also the entire community.
"I feel that I have direct influence in the success of each child that is exposed to the arts," says Jenkins, arts sustainability coordinator for the Arts Programming Sustainability Initiative funded by Community Foundation of the Ozarks.
"Working as a leader in the nonprofit sector and in the arts, I have a chance every day ... to make a positive difference in the quality of life of the southwest regional community."
After graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in music from University of Kansas, Jenkins was awarded a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship worth more than $20,000 to study abroad.
She considers the scholarship, which is given to only one or two Missourians a year, her greatest accomplishment to date.
Jenkins was accepted for postgraduate work at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and studied classical voice in Glasgow, Scotland. She also taught music to underprivileged children, cementing her desire to expose children to the arts.
"My experience in Glasgow opened my eyes to different cultures, languages and ideas but also gave me a huge amount of perspective as to how small the world actually is and how alike we all are," she says. "Learning and experiencing abroad, I believe, helped prepare me to be a leader in the Springfield community," she added.
Jenkins began her nonprofit career as an administrative assistant for program development with Springfield Regional Arts Council.
Six months later, she became education assistant before becoming the education director.
During her last year with the council, more than 35,000 students were exposed to the arts through educational programming.
Jenkins also paired the council with other organizations, such as Urban Neighborhoods Alliance and Dickerson Park Zoo, to create kid-friendly programming.
She assumed her current position with CFO in February and is charged with helping arts organizations build long-term sustainability through planned giving, educational programming and collaboration.
Jenkins' volunteer and extracurricular activities range from serving on the board of Swan Repertory Theatre to teaching the Children's Choir of Southwest Missouri.
Jenkins also is a volunteer performer with Springfield Little Theatre, Springfield Regional Opera and Springfield Symphony Orchestra.[[In-content Ad]]
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