178th Wing connects with community through leadership program Published May 19, 2015 By Airman Rachel Simones 178th Wing SPRIGFIELD, Ohio -- Airmen from the 178th Wing coached Springfield community members on ways that they can make a difference in their neighborhood during the Building Leaders to Build Community program, May 13. The BLBC program was held at Clark State Community College and was directed by the Springfield Neighborhood Promise, a local initiative that teaches Springfield residents how to rebuild neighborhoods into safer, more desirable areas. The program consisted of facilitated learning, individual assignments and group activities that helped the students develop leadership. The BLBC students learned about effective meeting facilitation skills during the class session. 2nd Lt. Randi Luster, the 178th Wing Communications Flight Director of Operations, gave instruction on the do's and don'ts of conducting a meeting in an open forum discussion. The BLBC students were Springfield residents who want to create a positive neighborhood for children to live in and who want to reduce crime in the community. "One of the class's goals is to create a summer program for the kids of these neighborhoods that will provide them with a healthy environment and good role models," said Tech. Sgt. Kelli Swanton, a 178th Wing operations management specialist. Swanton helped organize the 178th Wing's involvement in the program. She arranged speakers for each class and provided guidance throughout the course. The class graduated May 20 after attending nine weeks of leadership building sessions. "We want to keep in contact with the Springfield community," said Swanton. "We want them to be able to come to us if they need help reporting crime in their neighborhoods."