Section Highlights

Register online for the NeighborWorks Training Institute
in Washington, DC!

Connect With Us

Washington, DC Training Institute
New & Featured Courses

Washington, DC

Three New Courses Focused on Community Development in Native Country

NA150 Cultivating Success for Native Organizations
When we plant a seed, we need to cultivate it and keep an eye on the elements that will affect the seed’s ability to grow and survive. Organizations have similar needs. This two-day course will look at what it takes to be a strong Native organization or tribal department. Participants will learn how to create conditions in which their organization can flourish and carry out their mission effectively. The course will cover: elements of strong organizations, strategic and operational planning, fundraising strategies, board operations, staffing, sound financial management, and maximizing the use of technology.
NA151 Dynamic Communication and Facilitation Techniques for Native Practitioners
Strong communication skills are important at every staff level within a Native organization and can help the organization to plant strong roots within the community. This one-day course will take the fear out of facilitating by teaching participants innovative techniques to enhance their confidence and abilities to conduct a meeting, deliver a dynamic training, and improve daily interaction with colleagues and clients. We will share tools, explain how and why they work, and give participants time to try out these new skills. The course will cover a broad range of topics and techniques including cultural nuances, storytelling, World Café, magic wall, icebreakers, carousel, and basic coaching elements.
NA152 Surviving Harsh Elements: Enhancing a Native Organization’s Sustainability
How can we help Native organizations and programs weather unanticipated storms and ensure sustainability in the long term? This course will begin by looking at key elements of sustainability including diversified funding, fee-based income, partnership building, program integration, succession planning, and peer networking. We will examine case studies highlighting these elements in successful organizations, as well as the reasons an organization may need to close its doors or discontinue programs. After looking broadly at sustainability, we will focus on one particular element of sustainability –evaluating progress and measuring impact. What impact is your organization making? What are the results of your work? This evaluation component will cover cultural aspects of evaluation, why it’s important, and how to do it. Through hands-on activities and exercises, participants will become more comfortable with evaluation data gathering and will be prepared to develop strong reports that share the impact of their work.