What exactly is it? The Heber Leadership Academy is a group of 20 individuals from the community who have the opportunity to gather together and learn leadership skills from several impactful leaders. The team will discuss community-related hot topics and will come to better understand the needs and dynamics of the city. But don’t worry, it is not all talk. They get to practice what they are learning by completing a project to enhance the city. Dakota Mahan, Heber City Manager Assistant, shares that the goal of the program is two-fold: “It allows for people to, number one, expand their leadership skills and qualities because they will be meeting with leaders in different fields. And two, they will gain a better understanding of issues that surround the valley.”

In August, applicants were selected based on work experience, community involvement, and leadership goals. The leadership team will meet one Thursday of each month to learn from various leaders, problem solve, and create a positive impact. The Heber Leadership Academy held their first meeting in August and will finish up in May with a graduation ceremony. Over the next nine months, the group will hear from leaders in law enforcement, government, public health, and education, to name a few. Mayor Kelleen Potter has many hopes for the participants. She says, “I hope people who attend this program will find a deeper understanding of both the city government and just how things work in our community. I hope they will be inspired and motivated to want to participate and also to be ambassadors.” Mayor Potter also desires for this group to help dispel misinformation and create solutions.

One of the highlights for the group will be their opportunity to complete a project in the community. Mahan says, “One of the main parts of the program is to allow the participants to have a class project where they identify a need in the community and work to solve or alleviate that issue.” Similar programs have been working to accomplish great things in other places. Heber has drawn from other city’s leadership academies to develop a program they feel will best meet the needs of our citizens and our city. According to Mahan, in another city with a similar program, the group saw a need for a dog park. The individuals worked together to get the resources needed to make the dog park a reality. Mayor Potter says she doesn’t have any preconceived ideas of what this project will be for Heber. She really wants it to be an idea generated by the group so that they have real ownership and the opportunity to lead out in the task they choose to complete.

Mayor Potter is excited to see this program help people better understand local government. She also feels that this academy has the ability to help unite us as a community and to create a better dialogue: “ . . . I feel like it elevates the conversation in our community from one of divisiveness and attacking to taking the realities that we’re facing and figuring out what are the best solutions for this community.”

If this sounds like an opportunity you would like to be a part of, and you missed enrollment, don’t worry. Enrollment will open up again next summer. This will be an ongoing program that will continue to benefit our community and build leaders. For those wanting to get more involved in the community, opportunities abound. While the Heber Leadership Academy is a nine-month commitment, there are other chances to make a positive impact without as much time to dedicate. Mahan suggests getting involved in one of the many organizations that benefit the city. The Heber Valley Chamber of Commerce is a great place to get started if you want to network, strengthen your business, and gain training. Community Alliance for Main Street (CAMS) works to improve Main Street. The Wasatch Community Foundation is the largest non-profit organization in Heber striving to build healthy families and relies completely on volunteers. Citizens can also work to stay informed by tuning in to city council and town hall meetings. Our involvement counts. Mayor Potter says, “I believe that the more people who understand what’s going on in local government, the better candidates, the better elected officials, the better solutions we will have to problems.”

INFORMATION ONLINE:

envisionheber.com/leadership

Life is a gamble these days. The status quo that we knew — even one year ago — no longer exists. The paradigm is shifting to an undefined end. In our current social, political, and economic environment: victories are most often rewarded to those with the most flexibility. However, change is intimidating; and just like a game of cards, making the wrong choice can set you back farther than where you started. The weight of deciding how and when to change any variable of your life can be paralyzing. How does one determine when it is most prudent to stay the course or make a change?

Start by prioritizing regular time for personal introspection. Quiet and meditative time can open windows into your deeper self. I believe that there is a light within our consciousness that (being unaffected by all things temporal) can help us see how things are instead of how they appear. All you have to do is slow yourself down and detach from the world enough to catch a glimpse of that wisdom and light.

Ponder your situation and derive an implementable solution. There is little good in taking on problems that are outside of your sphere of influence. I turn to the oft-quoted ‘Serenity Prayer’ when mitigating stress or anxiety created by things that “I cannot change.”

God grant me the SERENITY to accept the things I cannot change, COURAGE to change the things I can, and WISDOM to know the difference.

Reinhold Niebuhr, American Theologian, 1951

Sins of omission are real. With that stated: it is imperative to recognize that you, as an individual, have little to no control over certain things. Understanding this will help in prioritizing what an implementable change is and what it is not. If the ailment is something that you cannot do anything about — emotionally letting go of that thing could be the exact change needed to find your center again.

When looking to make the world a better place, it is imperative to get your foundation in order first. Make those changes in your own life that will allow you to be a shining example to others first. If you can define your unique personal values: you develop a base of support that will enable you to share yourself with others.

Strength and leadership principles originate in the home. The next place to implement change is at the family level. Strive to create harmony within the relationships that matter most. When outside personal and professional networks see a caring and confident human being with all of their personal affairs in order — they will be more inclined to hear your message.

My challenge to the Heber Valley is to make 2021 a better year than it’s predecessor. We have virtually no control over natural disasters, disease, or pestilence. We may not have much influence at the Federal or State levels of government. However, every individual CAN make changes that will affect their strength and happiness. You can choose to find gratitude in an environment ripe with fear and disaster. We can all positively influence those people that we interact with daily. That is within our control.

Thank you for supporting Heber Valley Life magazine. We live in the best mountain community in the American West. It is my genuine pleasure to highlight those that make it so every season of the year.

Whatever this was that healed her child, Ida had to find out more about it. What she discovered was the deep and fascinating world of energy work. After delving into her research and exploration, Ida felt called to work in the field, helping others who were struggling, just like her family had been for so long. She researched several modalities, ultimately finding that what resonated with her the most was The Body Code technique.

The Body Code is a particular form of energy work that relies on the principle that everything is energy. We are supposed to experience emotions, learn from them, and then let them go. Sometimes, these emotions become “stuck,” and these unprocessed emotional energies manifest in real problems with our health, relationships, and careers. Anyone who has ever experienced stress headaches or gotten an upset stomach from nervousness knows how emotions can appear as physical problems in the body. The Body Code focuses on correcting imbalances in our subconscious that create barriers to moving forward in our lives. Ida found her passion in helping people break through those barriers to become the best version of themselves. After a few years of studying and practicing, Ida became a certified Body Code Coach.

We have all wanted to make significant strides in life. We yearn for better health, more enriching relationships, and a stronger sense of balance in our lives. Yet, for many of us, these goals frequently feel like dreams on the horizon, just out of reach, and we don’t know how to make them a reality. If you’ve ever felt like you’ve had unmet expectations (oooooh, me!) or like you’re a bit stuck where you are (also me!!), you may be struggling with breaking past blocks in your subconscious that are holding you back from reaching your potential. If given the opportunity to have someone step in and give you the boost you need to correct your energy imbalances and live a more empowered life, would you take it?

Well, I did! Despite my skepticism for anything that falls heavily into what I call the “woo-woo, New Agey stuff,” I agreed to let Ida work on me — and you know what — it works! In the year since I began doing Ida’s Body Code sessions, I have made some pretty significant changes. Here are just a few; I was able to unload a project taking a great deal of energy and causing a large amount of stress in my life. I broke through some financial barriers that I couldn’t have imagined a short time ago — I bought a bigger house, doubled my income, and got out of debt. And I found more clarity about what I want — and what I don’t want — in my life.

I’m not the only client of Ida’s who has had success; another client of Ida’s had been suffering for almost twenty years from back pain and severe arthritis due to two broken vertebrae that hadn’t healed properly. She worked with Ida for two months, and, in that time, her back pain decreased tremendously. Her mobility increased to a point where she finally felt like she had her quality of life back.

When another client’s marriage was affected by her chronic headaches, insomnia, heavy feelings of despair, and deep emotional anguish, she began taking the Body Code sessions. After working with Ida, she finally started sleeping again, her headaches subsided, her marriage improved, she found a new job, and has a newfound joy for life. Now her husband is working with Ida, too! These are the stories that inspire Ida every day and make her excited about her work.

One of the reasons why I believe Ida is so good at what she does is because, as fulfilling as her job is, balancing her work with raising a family is something that she struggles with too. She gets her clients. She understands them. Ida works out of a shed in their yard that her husband converted into an office, and she tries to fit all her hours in while the children are at school. “There are also the normal daily requirements of cooking, cleaning, shopping, and running the kids around,” she says. “Some days, I feel like a taskmaster instead of an ally and champion to my children. I have had to work hard to build intentional, relaxed time with my children into my day.”

Seeing her clients make radical transformations is what keeps Ida going. She loves being able to watch people make positive changes in their lives due to her work. Knowing how hard it is to look for answers and come up empty-handed, she is excited to offer people an opportunity to affect real change in their lives. Ida has expanded her business to include coaching, which allows her to increase her Body Code sessions and use her breadth of knowledge to support clients in moving forward and achieving significant growth. “I love seeing people empowered,” Ida says. “Lately, I have been working with several women who are at a crossroads in their lives. The transformation that takes place and the sense of empowerment that they gain over a short period of time has been very rewarding.”

To learn more about Ida Sapp and her work, visit idasapp.com.