Community Leadership Institutes

Strengthening the voices and skills of community, resident and volunteer leaders

The Community Leadership Institute is an invitation-only, three-day training event that aims to strengthen the voices and skills of community, resident and volunteer leaders. Participants from around the country, who attend in small teams from communities served by NeighborWorks Network organizations and their partners. 

The CLIs are a vehicle for learning and a forum for discussing community issues and sharing best practices and solutions to the problems faced by low- to moderate-income communities. Each CLI has a general theme determined by a team of resident coordinators; however, a full range of courses is offered to equip participants with the knowledge they need to improve their communities in many ways. At the end of every CLI, each participating team creates an action plan so they can effectively bring the knowledge they gained at the CLI back to their communities and use it to affect positive change.

Since 1995, NeighborWorks America has conducted 25 CLIs:

• The 5th National CLI will be held in Orlando, FL, October 25-28, 2012. NeighborWorks Network organizations can visit the network members-only website for additional details as they become available; non-network organizations that are interested in participating in the CLI should contact your NeighborWorks district office to learn more. Logistics.
• The 4th National CLI, Kansas City, MO, October 13-16, 2011
• The 3rd National CLI, Louisville, KY, October 21st –24th, 2010
• The 2nd National CLI, Milwaukee, October 15th–18th, 2009
• The 1st National CLI, San Jose, CA, October 23–26, 2008
• The Gulf Coast CLI, New Orleans, LA, June 19–22, 2008
  

Ideas for projects are generated by a team of resident volunteers who attend the CLI, and then go home full of energy and make positive changes in their communities. It is resident empowerment at its best. These stories are great because they show what can be accomplished when residents who care partner with organizations that are ready to support them.

Avenue Community Development Corporation (Avenue CDC), Houston, Texas

	“Schools, businesses, artists, community organizations, and residents came together at “Sabor Del Northside” to celebrate the great things in the Northside. What began as a brainstorm from eight resident leaders became reality as more than 1,000 people flocked to Ketelsen Elementary for this vibrant community festival. Even before the festival day, the “Sabor Del Northside” planning committee considered the event a success, because the planning process truly brought the community together. More than 50 organizations and businesses signed up to have booths at the festival to showcase their work.
	Project GRAD hosted a student art show on the next block. Local bands signed up to play, and cheerleaders and dance groups eagerly asked to perform. Parent-teacher organizations sold tacos and drinks to support their schools. Lindale Civic Club brought out children’s games and prizes. Marshall Middle School created elaborate decorations. It seemed that the idea of a festival, located in the heart of the neighborhood, sparked the collective imagination of the community. At the festival, it was clear that there is so much to celebrate in the Northside. The festival was also the groundbreaking for the new Ketelsen SPARK Park, a beautiful new community playground and park that will be built this summer. The festival was funded by a $2,000 NeighborWorks America CLI grant, and including volunteer hours and in-kind donations, leveraged more than $43,000 in resources.” Text and photos submitted by Avenue Community Development Corporation (Avenue CDC) in Houston, Texas.