NLDP Cohort XV and CDCLP Cohort II will commence later this summer.

Both NLDP and CDCLP have begun their recruitment for their next two cohorts. The Neighborhood Leadership Development Program (NLDP) is recruiting for its fifteenth cohort while the Community Development Corporation Leadership Program (CDCLP) is recruiting for its second 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 leaders at Community Development Corporations in Cleveland.

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: leadership development, program coaching and graduate support. CDCLP engages high level CDC directors, board officers 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 late summer 2022 and will be held at Trinity Commons. The NLDP application period is open until Sunday, August 14th at 9pm and the CDCLP application period is open until Thursday, August 4th 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 XV application and the CDCLP Cohort II application!

On Saturday, April 23rd, Cleveland gained a new cohort of NLDP graduates. These graduates work in every neighborhood of Cleveland and have different project areas, such as food and gardening, youth and families and community organizing.

They experienced many challenges while participating in NLDP during a pandemic, but nothing stopped them from showing up for themselves and in turn, their communities. These 19 graduates are reflective of the entire network of NLDP graduates... committed, passionate and determined only scratch the surface. Cleveland neighborhoods are better because of their hard work and their commitment to improving their communities for the people who live in them.

Learn more here.

Learn more here.

Learn more here.

Following the onboarding of 19 new graduates, NLDP is excited to announce a new structure to one of our programs, the Graduate Board Match Program (GBMP). GBMP seeks to place NLDP graduates on non-profit boards in Cleveland. Our graduates are community-based, dedicated and knowledgeable. They inherently understand the needs of the community, which directly benefits non-profit organizations serving members of the community.

We need you – community-engaged non-profits in Cleveland – to help us get started. This year, GBMP will better reflect the timelines of the non-profit boards interested in working with NLDP graduates. We will accept interest from non-profits in Cleveland on a rolling basis. An interest form can be completed by contacting Julia Ferra at jferra@nldpcleveland.com.

How can you be sure you are a good fit for GBMP?

Interested in electing an NLDP graduate to your Board of Directors? Contact Julia Ferra at jferra@nldpcleveland.com to fill out an interest form!

Being the oldest of six kids, leadership is something that has always come natural to Anita. The passion to strengthen her community is also something that came natural to Anita. Starting Concerned Citizens Community Council, Anita used her skills and passion to rebuild and stabilize Mt. Pleasant and also hold elected officials accountable which not only led to her applying for NLDP, but also stepping in as interim City Councilwomen in 2021.

As an avid learner, Anita applied for NLDP as a means to sharpen her listening and community building skills. One of the biggest challenges she faced was changing the mindset of her community from hopelessness and desperation to hopeful and inspired. Anita knew in order to help her community become stronger, she needed to gain the trust by showing people that is safe and powerful to dream. NLDP strengthened Anita’s leadership skills by teaching her ways to effectively communicate with her community and other organizations in order to create a neighborhood of hope. She also credits NLDP for helping her become better at sharing her skills, which she used as interim City Councilwomen for Ward 4.

While serving as interim City Councilwomen, Anita realized City Council is just like a family in how they get along, the good and bad that come with it. She saw the struggles are more of political differences and not enough emphasis on seeing the people in their community and the changes that need to be made. She urges anyone in local politics, or anyone thinking about participating in local politics, to focus on understanding the needs of the people.

Although Anita may be out of politics, she is still continuously working within her CDC in Mt. Pleasant to not only assist with programs they need, but also build a legacy of service that becomes a standard for others to follow. She is continuously creating hope by demonstrating what is possible for every resident. She is leading through skills that came naturally as a child, skills she learned early on in her career, and skills she sharpened at NLDP.

Beginning his career in CDCs over a decade ago, Adam has transitioned from assisting businesses at MetroWest Community Development to being promoted as Executive Director, where he finalized the merger between Detroit Shoreway and Cudell Improvement, Inc. In his 11 years as a CDC professional, Adam has realized how exciting, dynamic, fulfilling, but also how challenging it can be in the CDC industry.

NLDP believes that being an effective leader includes practicing self-care and learning the basics of volunteer management and board service. This is why we have a session focused on "Service to Community and Yourself." The session, which took place for Cohort XIV in late March, included a panel of volunteer managers and leaders who regularly engage volunteers in their projects and organizations.

Our experienced panelists were Shanelle Moon, Director of Youth Programs at Merrick House and NLDP C-XIII Graduate; Judy Payne, former Executive Director of Kids Book Bank and co-founder of Goods Bank NEO; and Jessica Morrison, Associate Director of Family Programs at Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity and NLDP C-IX Graduate.

Five key takeaways from our volunteer management panel:

Are you working on a neighborhood cleanup project or know of someone that is? The Clean and Green Trailer is ready to be reserved for your neighborhood cleanup! Brought to you be Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, the Clean and Green Trailer is supplied with various landscaping and cleanup tools to brighten up your community! Tools include: mowers, rakes, safety supplies, water hose, and much more.

If you wish to use the trailer, click here to reserve your dates and fill out the application and necessary waivers. There you will also find a complete list of tools, helpful information, and responsibilities. You must have a designated Cleanup Coordinator and a minimum of five volunteers. The trailer is available now through September!

If you have any questions, visit the website or contact Melinda Gigante at mgigante@clevelandnp.org.

This month's video features Chrishawndra Matthews, C-X, and her organization Literacy in the H.O.O.D. Watch here!