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Meaghan Williams with Oklahoma Congressman Dan Boren at the Junior National Young Leaders Conference.

TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - Meaghan Williams, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, was recently chosen to attend a national conference for young leaders. The Junior National Young Leaders Conference is an annual event held in Washington, D.C. It gives youth the opportunity to visit with elected members of Congress and participate in educational activities.

"The aim of the Junior National Young Leaders Conference is to inspire students like Meaghan Williams to recognize their own leadership skills, measure their skills against those of current and former leaders and return home with new found confidence in their ability to exercise positive influence within their communities," said Mike Lasday, executive director of the Congressional Youth Leadership Council, the organization sponsoring the conference. "Young people are not only welcome in Washington, D.C., they actually keep this city and our country running."

Williams also studied the impact of leadership throughout critical periods of American history including the Civil War, World War II, the Great Depression and the Civil Rights Movement.

"It was cool," Williams said. "I learned that a leader can only be a leader if they have all eight traits of leadership."

According to Williams, the eight leadership traits are perseverance, team work, character, courage, tolerance, communication skills, and the ability to set goals and solve problems.

Williams is a 12-year-old, seventh-grade student at Briggs School and the daughter of Wes and Tonia Williams.

Related Cherokee Nation contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org