Building a Network of Grassroots Neighborhood Leaders

(from Neighborhood Leader, Winter 2005-2006 issue)

Dear Neighbor,

I hope you were one of the many people who joined us for our annual holiday gathering in December. It was a great party, and we had a lot of fun.

I'm glad that we can throw a good party, but that was not the only thing we were trying to accomplish. When we bring graduates of our leadership programs together, it's part of our effort to build a network of grassroots leaders.

Graduation from Neighborhood Leadership Cleveland (NLC) is a beginning, not an end. Our graduates want to take what they have learned in their leadership classes and put it to work in service of their neighborhoods and community organizations.

They also want to maintain one of the things they value most about their leadership class: connections with other neighborhood leaders. In other words, they want to participate in a network of grassroots leaders—a network through which they can learn and grow as leaders.

We are working to build the Neighborhood Leadership Institute into a vehicle through which grassroots leaders can connect with one another. Our Web site and this newsletter are important parts of that strategy. But opportunities for face-to-face interaction, such as the holiday gathering, are even better. After all, you can't have a strong network without strong relationships.

A strong, connected network of grassroots neighborhood leaders has the potential to provide numerous benefits to the Greater Cleveland community. With a strong network in place, neighborhood leaders can:

  • share lessons learned from their community projects
  • share information about available resources
  • collaborate on projects of common interest
  • draw on one another's skills

The skills, connections, and resources that grassroots leaders derive from participating in NLI's network benefit not only individual leaders but also the neighborhoods in which they reside and the organizations that they lead.

It's not easy being a grassroots leader. The challenges can sometimes leave us feeling frustrated and lonely. Don't worry—you're not alone. We're building the network. Give us a call and we'll connect you.

Warmest regards,

Don