The deadlines for both NLDP and CDCLP recruitment are fast approaching. The Neighborhood Leadership Development Program (NLDP) and the CDC Leadership Program (CDCLP) are programs of the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation. NLDP is actively recruiting for its fourteenth cohort while CDCLP is recruiting for its first-ever cohort. NLDP continues to build grassroots and community leaders who are committed to creating change in Cleveland's neighborhoods while CDCLP focuses on developing the leadership of CDC leaders.

NLDP seeks to uniquely develop the diverse leadership abilities of engaged Clevelanders who are committed to creating a city and region which works for everyone. The program has three core pillars: curriculum, coaching and graduate support. CDCLP engages high level CDC directors, board presidents and other CDC leaders to help improve their leadership skills and their professional capacity to make a greater impact on the neighborhoods they serve through education, coaching, and experiential activities that involve critical issues facing CDCs and neighborhoods.

Both NLDP and CDCLP are actively recruiting community leaders to invest in their leadership journeys. Sessions for both NLDP and CDCLP will commence in September 2021 and will be held in person at Trinity Commons. The NLDP application period is open until Sunday, August 15th at 9pm and the CDCLP application period is open until Friday, August 13th at 5pm.

Are you interested in applying or do you know someone who should participate in NLDP or CDCLP? View and share the NLDP Cohort XIV application and the CDCLP Cohort I application!

As NLDP expands its footprint in Cleveland, we are continuing to grow our family to better serve our network of graduates and potential participants. We have recently welcomed five new individuals to fill out our coaching team and support the NLDP/CDCLP programs.

We want to formally welcome our new staff members and coaches to the NLDP family. We are excited to continue working with you!

Program Coach, Audra Jones, M.B.A. hails from Cleveland, Ohio where she lives and serves as an author, speaker, entrepreneur, and educator. Audra serves as founder and CEO of Krystal Klear Communications, L.L.C a full-service communications design firm specializing in creating successful branding and marketing efforts through events, workshops and consulting. Audra is a philanthropist and advocate for the advancement of small business ownership. She is skilled in strategic planning, collaborative and equitable connections. She has proven experience working with small to mid-sized firms consulting on program development, writing grants and proposals, conducting prospect research, and developing fundraising plans.  

Program Coach, Pam Turos moved to the shores of Lake Erie after earning her Bachelor in Social Work degree from Youngstown State University. As a licensed social worker for over 15 years, she served in a variety of roles including Director of Social Work, ICU and ER Case Manager and Hospice Bereavement Coordinator. A skilled writer and editor, Pam launched Good Cause Creative in 2015 as a communications consultancy for small to mid-sized nonprofit organizations. She also provides coaching and job placement services for independent contractors seeking projects in the social sector. Pam is the founder and former publisher of WISH Cleveland and a community campaign leader for #GivingTuesdayCLE. Pam is a Cohort XII NLDP graduate. 

Lead Program Coach, Laura Junglas has over thirty years of experience working with a variety of community focused leaders and nonprofit organizations. Additionally, she is skilled at coaching emerging and established leaders desiring to maximize the skills within themselves to become more effective in their leadership journey. In 2000, Ms. Junglas started Nonprofit Org Doctor, LLC, and provides consulting services in the areas of leadership development, strategic planning, board and organizational development, financial analysis, real estate finance and underwriting for nonprofit organizations. She also creates and facilitates training sessions on a variety of topics. Ms. Junglas holds a Master’s of Science in Organization Development and Analysis from the Weatherhead School at Case Western Reserve University and a BA in Liberal Arts Management and French from Virginia Wesleyan College. 

Assistant Program Director, Jillian Svala realized a passion for a career in social service after graduating from Penn State University. Jillian then moved to Cleveland Ohio to pursue her Master’s in Social Science Administration at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University. She began her career with the former Cuyahoga County Board of County Commissioners as a program officer over school-based programming. This led her to an opportunity to serve as the Managing Director with the Council of Neighborhood Leaders, a membership coalition of 14 Cleveland-based not for profit organizations and Settlement Houses, all dedicated to transforming the lives of individuals and families by offering informal supports within the neighborhood of residence for each recipient.

Doan Winkel, Ph.D. will facilitate the Building Stronger Communities Through Social Entrepreneurship session for Cohort XIV. Dr. Winkel is an Assistant Professor of Management at John Carroll University as well as the Director of the Muldoon Center for Entrepreneurship. His passion is giving students a voice, and motivating younger generations to tackle their dreams through creating their own careers.

Scott Allen, Ph.D. will facilitate the Who You Are... Is How You Lead session for Cohort XIV. Dr. Allen is an Associate Professor of Management and the Standard Products—Dr. James S. Reid Chair in Management at John Carroll University. Scott is the chair and co-founder of the Collegiate Leadership Competition and has served on the board of the International Leadership Association, Association of Leadership Educators, and Management and Organizational Behavior Teaching Society.

I currently work in Chicago, Illinois and hold two major roles: Executive Director of Northwest Side Housing Center, an organization that identifies and responds to the needs of the community by leveraging resources to improve the economic well-being and quality of life in Belmont Cragin and the surrounding communities; and adjunct faculty member at DePaul University, teaching courses that focus on race, housing and policy in the School of Public Service and the Sociology Department.

NLDP prepared me in two main ways. First, through one-on-one leadership coaching with my coach at the time, Merle Graybill, who illuminated an underlying issue that I was experiencing but was unaware of. Through our coaching sessions I realized my tendency to keep myself busy with activities, engagements and events without purpose instead of spending time reflecting on what is really important to me. In addition to the self-discovery through coaching, which ultimately led me to leave Cleveland for Chicago, I completed the program with a friend, Anita Gardner. NLDP allowed us to further develop our relationship and leadership together and enabled us to take lessons learned through the program and apply them to our community organizing work in Mt. Pleasant.

Most of the challenges I face in my community work seem to be the result of external factors and require flexibility and adaptability. A challenge I continually face is dealing with the complex realities of people's lives and trying to lead them with empathy, care and compassion while also ensuring we are responsible stewards of our resources.

The Neighborhood Leadership Development Program has been granting funds to NLDP graduates since 2013. The purpose of the Graduate Grant Program is to assist and support NLDP graduates by providing support for their leadership efforts as they promote and execute their neighborhood projects. Additionally, the purpose of the program is to provide an opportunity for NLDP graduates to learn the skills of grant seeking and grant administration, including grant writing, grant implementation and grant reporting. 

Did you host or attend a Common Ground event this year? This year marks the fifth anniversary of Common Ground, an event from the Cleveland Foundation where conversations were hosted for the community, by the community. The community-led conversations this year focused on the theme "Growing Common Ground: People, Place, Shared Power."

Following the powerful community conversations this year, Neighbor Up will continue to support Common Ground projects through granting small grants in Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties. Project support exists to help catalyze community-led action in the region following Common Ground conversations. Since 2017, Common Ground has provided approximately $81,000 in monetary support to Common Ground-inspired projects across Northeast Ohio.

Grants are available through August 31st. Learn more here!

This month's video features Letitia Lopez, C-XI, and her organization Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts Center. Watch here!