NLI Pilots New Leadership Program

from Neighborhood Leader, Winter 2006-2007 issue

The first group of residents to take part in NLI’s new neighborhood-based leadership program graduated in December. Twelve grassroots leaders from Cleveland’s Mt. Pleasant neighborhood completed a 13-week curriculum designed to develop their leadership skills.

The Mt. Pleasant class was the first NLI-sponsored leadership program to focus on a single neighborhood. In contrast, Neighborhood Leadership Cleveland, NLI’s flagship leadership development program, draws residents from neighborhoods throughout Greater Cleveland.

NLI developed the new program at the request of the Mt. Pleasant Community Zone, Inc., an organization that supports and coordinates community-wide planning in Mt. Pleasant.

Participants in the class researched the rich history of Mt. Pleasant and catalogued the neighborhood’s many assets, including its core of longtime residents, small business owners, and faith-based institutions.

Like Neighborhood Leadership Cleveland, the Mt. Pleasant leadership class boasted an impressive roster of guest speakers. Participants heard from Cleveland City Councilman Zack Reed, who represents Mt. Pleasant; Cuyahoga County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones; City of Cleveland finance director Sharon Dumas; and Amy Swanson, the executive director of Voices for Ohio’s Children.

NLC grad Mark McClain (Class 21) also took a turn as guest speaker. McClain helped class participants understand some of the legal issues that impact neighborhoods’ attempts to reduce crime and deal with nuisances that affect residents’ quality of life.

Graduates of the class are determined to put their new skills and connections to use. They will be meeting in January to discuss action plans and next steps. In addition, two of the graduates have submitted applications to participate in Neighborhood Leadership Cleveland, which begins its 23rd class in January.

NLI’s executive director, Don Slocum, sees more neighborhood-based leadership classes in NLI’s future: “We think there is a demand for neighborhood-based leadership programs. With a successful pilot program under our belts, we can begin to talk with residents who might want to develop similar programs in other neighborhoods.”