Distinguished Scholar Lauds Newest Class of NLC Graduates

(From Neighborhood Leader, Summer 2007 issue)

An internationally renowned scholar praised and challenged the newest class of Neighborhood Leadership Cleveland graduates at their graduation ceremony in May.

Dr. Jeffrey Brudney, the newly appointed Albert A. Levin Chair of Urban Studies and Public Service at Cleveland State University, delivered the keynote address at the graduation ceremony for NLC Class 23.

The Urban Institute has called Brudney "the foremost research expert on volunteer management programs and community volunteer centers in the United States."

Brudney began his speech by acknowledging the challenging curriculum that the graduates had tackled: "No doubt, you have been busy in your course of study for Neighborhood Leadership Cleveland. Early in the semester you took a tour of Cleveland neighborhoods that has become a tradition in this program, and you participated in a weekend retreat. You studied conflict resolution, engaged in goal setting, and created an action plan. You learned about neighborhood development and CDCs, community organizing, and public policy. You worked with others on developing a group project as well as an effective presentation, and you observed the presentations of your peers."

Brudney called particular attention to the segment of the curriculum devoted to "Discovering Community Assets." After cataloguing the many assets that class members had identified, he challenged each graduate to "be a person who transforms assets into results."

Along with that challenge, Brudney offered advice. He suggested that the graduates stay active and visible by regularly attending events and meetings and that they partner with others to achieve greater impact. He also encouraged them to lead with passion but to support that passion with knowledge.

Above all, he urged the graduates to volunteer. Brudney noted, "Nearly every great movement in this country—civil rights, human rights, women’s rights, social justice, environmentalism, and so forth—began with a volunteer who was not satisfied with business as usual and wanted to make a change."

He recalled a well-known volunteer recruitment campaign, which featured the headline, “V O L __ N T E E R. All that is missing is ‘U’.”

Returning to the theme of community assets, Brudney said to the graduates, "The point here is the same: In order to build and mold the assets of Cleveland neighborhoods into remarkable accomplishments, all that is missing is 'you.'"

He added, "If you will but put into practice what you have learned in this Neighborhood Leadership course, you will help to make Cleveland a better place."

In a final word of benediction, Brudney reminded the members of Class 23 that they are part of a larger tradition: "May you make the previous classes in this program proud, and set an example of achievement for all who follow."