Reflections from NLC Class 23

(From Neighborhood Leader, Summer 2007 issue)

Dear Neighbor,

I truly appreciated the keynote speech by Dr. Jeffrey Brudney at the graduation ceremony for Neighborhood Leadership Cleveland Class 23. We at NLI can learn from his research in the field of volunteerism, and I look forward to working with him.

While his speech set the tone for the evening, Dr. Brudney was not the only speaker to grace the podium. A longstanding tradition at Neighborhood Leadership Cleveland graduation ceremonies calls for a handful of graduates to share their "reflections" about the class.

The reflections are as diverse as the graduates themselves. As I listened to this year's graduates, I found myself alternately amused, inspired, and even moved to the verge of tears.

As always, I was struck by the bond that had developed among the diverse group. Ivan Williams of Downtown Cleveland said, "I met a lot of great people, a lot of great friends, a lot of great leaders." Marques Grays of South Collinwood added, "I've never been in a room with so many powerful people."

Susan Brandt of North Collinwood thanked her classmates "for being my teachers, for being my mentors." And Errol McCullough of Old Brooklyn remarked, "It's like I acquired a new family."

Other speakers talked about the skills and the inspiration that they had gained from the class. Antoinette Brinson-Santiago of Cleveland Heights said that the class "taught us how to take the human compassion that we already have and bring it out in the community and embrace our people and help our communities." She added, "That's the kind of class that I'll remember for the rest of my life."

With tongue in cheek, John Harvis-Bey of East Cleveland told the audience that Neighborhood Leadership Cleveland is a "dangerous" program. "Before you know it," warned Harvis-Bey, "you'll be going to meetings, e-mailing folks with inspirational quotes, calling people, organizing and being organized, standing in front of people speaking with such confidence that you feel you can negotiate your passions with theirs and create an inclusive community for all."

Deanna Jarvis of Euclid captured the spirit of the graduation ceremony when she said, "I just want to say thank you for this program, for this opportunity, for these friends, this networking adventure -- and I am ready to run!"

Like the many NLC graduates who came before them, the members of Class 23 have the passion and the commitment to turn their words into actions. I have no doubt that they will use what they have learned in Neighborhood Leadership Cleveland to rally their neighbors and to reach out beyond their own neighborhoods to work with other grassroots leaders.

Warmest regards,

Don