Two Approaches to Neighborhood Leadership

(From Neighborhood Leader, Winter 2006-2007 issue)

Dear Neighbor,

Men and women. . . young and old. . . black and white. . . East-Siders and West-Siders. . . from GED’s to PhD’s.

That is how I typically describe the variety of people who take part in Neighborhood Leadership Cleveland (NLC). The diversity of the participants is one of the program’s greatest strengths.

Year after year NLC brings together people who otherwise might not have an opportunity to meet one another. Despite their differences, the participants come to understand that they face similar challenges and share many of the same aspirations for their families and communities.

It’s important to bring grassroots leaders together from different parts of the region—especially in light of Greater Cleveland’s history of racial and geographical separation. Tackling the region’s toughest challenges requires all of us to rise above our differences and work together toward common goals.

While I am eager for the start of Class 23 of Neighborhood Leadership Cleveland at the end of January, I am also excited about our new leadership program, which graduated its first class in December (see page one).

Unlike Neighborhood Leadership Cleveland, our new program focuses on a single neighborhood. For our pilot session, Jacquie Gillon and I worked with twelve residents in Cleveland’s Mt. Pleasant neighborhood.

We found that the single-neighborhood focus presented opportunities to draw upon the residents’ common points of reference and to delve deeply into issues specific to Mt. Pleasant.

That was especially true when Councilman Zack Reed visited the class one evening in November. Watching the frank and respectful exchange between the councilman and his constituents, I really felt that I was witnessing democracy in action.

As impressed as I was by the commitment of the Mt. Pleasant residents, I know that there are citizens across Greater Cleveland who are just as passionate about their own neighborhoods.

I would like to see us build on the success of our Mt. Pleasant pilot project and organize one or two more neighborhood-based leadership classes in the next year. Ideally, I would like to see those classes led by graduates of Neighborhood Leadership Cleveland.

If you think residents in your neighborhood are ready for a neighborhood-based leadership class, I would like to hear from you. Give me a call and let’s begin the conversation.

In the meantime, we will continue to bring together grassroots leaders from all over the region as we launch Class 23 of Neighborhood Leadership Cleveland.

Warmest regards,

Don