On Friday, February 15, 2008, join is for a presentation by James T. Parsons on the topic: “Why developing young leaders is like forestry.”
Our mission is to elevate the role of leadership in the lives of the citizens of Central Texas; to focus on the vitality and necessity of regional leadership capital; and to serve others through the process of encouraging individuals to grow, prosper and make a significant difference through the practice of leadership skills.
James T. Parsons is the staff attorney to the Honorable Gisela D. Triana, Judge of the 200th District Court of Travis County. Prior to his wroking for Judge Triana, James was an assistant attorney general with the State of Texas for almost 12 years. He graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1994 and graduated Phi Beta Kappa, Summa Cum Laude from the University of Texas at Austin in 1991. In 1990, James was recognized for his leadership at UT-Austin and was inducted into Mortar Board.
In addition to his legal work, James has been prolific in his participation and leadership of young professionals in both industry associations and other community groups. In the legal field, James is a past director of the Austin Young Lawyers Association (AYLA) and successfully led AYLA’s law student outreach program, which won a national first place award in 2005 from the American Bar Association in the category of Service to the Bar. James was also one of the youngest members of the Government Section Council for the State Bar of Texas, serving from 2001 through 2004.
Outside of the legal field, James has made a significant impact in the arts leadership of young professionals in Austin. In 2000, James was a founding board member of the Austin Symphony BATS, the young professionals’ affiliate of the Austin Symphony Orchestra (AS0), and served as its President for the 2004-2005 ASO Season. James also helped found Catalyst 8, the young professionals’ affiliate for the Long Center for the Performing Arts, and currently serves on its Leadership Council.
As part of his activities with Catalyst 8, James is a co-Chair in charge of developing the current Boost program, which provides rental subsidies from funds raised by Catalyst 8 to arts groups using the Long Center. So far Catalyst 8 has raised $46,000 in the last year for such rental subsidies. As importantly, James is leading Catalyst 8’s Boostcamp efforts, in collaboration with the Austin Music Foundation, the Austin Film Society, and others, to help emerging performing arts groups develop their business skills to better promote their art careers.
James is also active with KLRU’s Associate Producer’s Circle, and is a past-Chair of the KLRU Community Advisory Board. In part because of his active arts leadership, in 2006, James was inducted into the Knights of the Symphony and is one of its youngest members.
James is also a founding member of the LBJ Future Forum, an affiliate of the LBJ Presidential Library, and currently serves on its Advisory Board. In 2006, James became a member of the board of directors for Youthlaunch, a non-profit centered in Austin that seeks to empower youth service leaders in high schools in Texas as agents of change within their own communities. Since 2000, James has also been an active volunteer with the Texas Medical Association Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the TMA, and is also serving on the planning committee for Animal Trustees of Austin’s Petcasso fundraiser, which will take place in February 2008.
James is married to Heather Summers Parsons, Development Director for Texas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). She is also the Immediate Past-President of the Young Women’s Alliance (YWA), and now a provisional member of the Junior League of Austin.
The breakfast will be held from 7:30 until 9:00 a.m. on Friday, 15th , at the Austin Club. The Austin Club is located on the north side of 9th Street Between Congress and Brazos. The cost is $20.00 per person. Reservations are required. To register go to www.theaustinleadershipforum.com. Registration closes on Wednesday, February 13th at 6:00p.m.. Please don’t delay.
