Three local leaders will represent Missouri City and Stafford in the Fort Bend Leadership Forum's Class of 2027.
The Fort Bend Regional Partnership announced the 60-member class Thursday, Aug. 27. Blake Howard of the Missouri City Police Department, Joyce Norton-Wilkins of Stafford Municipal School District and Derrick Ward of Fort Bend ISD will spend the coming months in sessions covering criminal justice, education, economic development and local government.
Howard holds the rank of sergeant in Missouri City's patrol division, according to the city's staff directory. Norton-Wilkins serves as board member for Position 1 on the Stafford MSD Board of Trustees, according to the district's website. Ward serves as general counsel for Fort Bend ISD.
The program runs August through May.
The leadership forum, which has operated for more than 38 years, brings participants from across Fort Bend County together for monthly full-day sessions. It opens with a retreat focused on relationship-building, then moves through topics including diversity, health and social services, and infrastructure. Participants also travel to Austin for a two-day state government session and to Washington, D.C., for a three-day national government session. The program concludes with a closing retreat and graduation ceremony.
The partnership said the forum helps participants from different fields get to know one another and learn how the county works. Jay Neal of the University of Houston and Kevin Riles of Kevin Riles Commercial co-chair the program.
This year's class draws from healthcare, engineering, financial services, nonprofits and local government across the county. The previous class graduated 58 members in May 2026 in Galveston.
Residents interested in applying for the Class of 2028 can contact Rebekah Beltran at 281-566-2158 or [email protected].
Upcoming community dates:
- Fort Bend Leadership Forum Class of 2027 sessions begin in August and run monthly through May 2027.
- Stafford City Council meets Wednesday, Sept. 2, to hear a flood mitigation report.
