Neighborhood Leadership Institute

	Empowering Residents Promoting Positive Change in Summit County Neighborhoods

Be An Advocate For Your Family
& Your Community

The 2009 Neighborhood Leadership Institute Graduating Class

The Neighborhood Leadership Institute of Summit County is designed for increasing grassroots leadership engagement. The Institute has an 11 session curriculum that includes classes on leadership topics ranging from strategic planning to neighborhood development.

Through participation in the Neighborhood Leadership Institute, grassroots leaders learn a wide variety of skills, including how to:

Serve as advocates for their families and communities
Collaborate with others to get things done
Make public presentations
Work with government agencies and social service providers
Find and utilize resources

Just as importantly, neighborhood residents come away from their participation in NLI’s programs with an expanded sense of their own potential as leaders, a newfound appreciation for the assets of their communities, and a connection to a network of other grassroots leaders who share the same challenges and the same hopes for their families and communities.

We envision safer, more beautiful, more empowered neighborhoods as a result of greater organization and engagement, and enhanced neighborhoods that add value to our business community and strengthen our economic development efforts.

Our Mission:
To train and empower local residents and community leaders to promote
positive changes in Summit County neighborhoods and communities.

Purpose Statement:

To broaden the participants understanding of the community;
To expand the pool of skilled neighborhood leaders;
To build upon and/or develop participants’ experience;
To encourage and assist the establishment of networks among neighborhoods and their leaders;
To enhance the ability of neighborhoods to resolve problems on their own or in cooperation with other neighborhoods and/or institutions.

11 Training Sessions:
Most sessions are on Thursday Evenings and will be held at Quaker Square

The 2010 Schedule includes:

1. Overnight Retreat , Friday, 2/26/10, 5:30-9pm, Saturday, 2/27/10, 8am- 2pm – Orientation, Leadership, Team building, Personal relationship skills, Group dynamics, Conflict resolution, Learning and listening skills/styles.

Classes on Thursdays - 5-6 dinner, 6-8 class, 8-9 discuss community projects, end at 9p.m.

2. 3/4/10 Community Organizing models/Community Development, (Neighborhood Housing)

3. 3/11/10 Assessing Your Neighborhood, (Asset mapping, Overview of Summit County, SWAT analysis, Surveying your neighborhood)

4. 3/18/10 Coalition Building

5. 3/25/10 Criminal Justice (Theory of crime, Community policing, Gangs, mapping neighborhood crime, code enforcement)

6. 3/27/10 (SATURDAY, TOUR of neighborhoods)

Skip Easter Week

7. 4/8/10 Strategic Planning (goal setting, personal goals)

8. 4/15/10 Managing funding, (Fundraising, Financial Ethics; Project management)

9. 4/22/10 Communication & Engagement (Communication Skills, Media, Community Calendar)

10. 4/29/10 Government 101 & Neighborhoods (Attend Government Meeting Prior to; Working With Government; Shadowing)

11. 5/6/10 Group Project Presentations & Graduation

Registration is closed for the 2010 Neighborhood Leadership Institute

You may fill out an application
for the 2011 class.

Application for 2011 (Word Doc)
Application for 2011 (PDF)

The tuition for the training sessions is $550/participant. Scholarships will be available through several organizations.

We encourage more than one person from a neighborhood to apply. Tell your neighbors, friends or co-workers about this program – encourage them to apply with you!

For information on future class offerings contact Devoe Johnson at 330.643.5511 or email djohnson@uwsummit.org

Members of the First Class:
Graduated May 2009

Barberton: William Judge, Martha Scott, and Eric Spooney

Buchtel area: Jonathan McCray, Gerald Gould, Ayesha Nurruddin, Jerry Williams, and Mexie Wilson.

Firestone Park: Jacquelyn Lewis

Lakemore: Marlene Hill and Kelly Kortvejesi.

Summit Lake: Rosa Dortch-Robinson, Shirley Finney, Michael Starks, Danmark Cunningham, and Paul Ware, Jr.

South Akron: Dilisa Townsend

Twinsburg: Kelly Harris and Ada Hazly

University Park: Deborah Cunningham, Debi-Ellen Beckett, Jack Bird, Ann Lane Gates, and Khamseng J. Vue.

The Neighborhood Leadership Institute
of Summit County was developed by:

United Way of Summit County –
Attaining Independence Impact Council

Akron Area YMCA
Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority
Akron-Summit Community Action, Inc.
Akron Urban League
City of Akron
East Akron Community House
Leadership Akron
Perkins Street Area Action Group
Summit 2010: Quality of Life Project
County of Summit Executive’s Office
Summit County Department
of Job & Family Services
The University of Akron
University Park Alliance
University Park Development Corporation

Technical assistance provided by
Neighborhood Leadership Institute Cleveland

For more information on the Neighborhood Leadership Institute of Summit County contact Devoe Johnson at the United Way of Summit County, 330.643.5511 or email djohnson@uwsummit.org

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