Mayor: ‘It’s about people’

Evin Shoap / senior photographer Harrisonburg mayor Larry M. Rogers speaks on leadership.

The mayor of Harrisonburg named many elements of a good leader, but centered his discussion on people skills.

"People skills. That’s what it’s all about — it’s about people," Mayor Larry M. Rogers said Thursday evening in the College Center during his program, "The Road to Leadership." The program was a Wellness Passport event sponsored by the office of the associate vice president of student affairs for multicultural awareness and student health.

"This is the first event that we’ve solely sponsored in quite some time," said Zebulun Davenport, associate vice president of multicultural awareness and student health.

The mayor spoke about his background and how it contributed to his achievements. Rogers also said his goals in life were to escape his small hometown and become a professional football player. Rogers said during his college career a teacher opened his eyes to the fact that he had a mind to exercise and use besides his body.

The newly graduated Rogers approached Harrisonburg officials in the hopes of beginning a group for children to go to after school. In 1994, he was successful in being elected to the city council. He went on to begin his group, "Your Place After School," which consisted of 35 students. Today, the group is called "Boys and Girls Club" and includes 700 students.

Rogers became mayor of Harrisonburg in 2004, which made him the first African-American mayor of Harrisonburg. Rogers cited the city is about 95 percent Caucasian. Harrisonburg is about 94 percent Republican, while Rogers is a Democrat.

The mayor said he may aspire to head for Washington, D.C., in the future.

"I’m a public servant and I like being a public servant — that’s what I do," Rogers added.