Registration is open for FH 2020 Neighborhood Leadership Workshop Series

2019 Neighborhood Leadership Workshop Series participants at the 2019 FutureHeights Annual Meeting. 

Residents of Cleveland Heights are invited to apply for the 2020 FutureHeights Neighborhood Leadership Workshop Series, a free, multidisciplinary neighborhood leadership development program designed for individuals enthusiastic about positively contributing to the community in which they live, work and play. Participants will develop leadership skills, as well as gain knowledge and tools to help make their neighborhoods strong, safe and vibrant.

Since 2015, 60 CH residents have completed the workshop series. Some participate because they are interested in learning more about the city, want to meet their neighbors and other civically-minded people, or have a specific neighborhood project they want to complete. Many program graduates go on to join nonprofit boards, or city committees or commissions. Some apply to receive funding for a project through FutureHeights’ Neighborhood Mini-Grants Program, which has biannual deadlines. (The fall mini-grants deadline is Sunday, Sept. 15.)

“I found the workshops to be extremely helpful in giving me a space to work out ideas I had, and shape them with the help of other people with similar interest in working for Cleveland Heights,” said Michael Hagesfeld, a 2018 participant. “The speakers were interesting, and helped give different perspectives I could apply to my particular situation. Working with other people who also had a drive and love for Cleveland Heights inspired me, in addition to giving me ideas I could apply to my concept, and be able to help them with theirs.”

Donna Johnson, a 2019 participant, said that participating in the program “was the perfect impetus to help me rally and engage my neighbors!”

The program takes an assets-based community development approach, which means that it seeks to build upon a neighborhood’s strengths. It is funded by the city of Cleveland Heights through a Community Development Block Grant and by individual contributions to FutureHeights.

In 2020, the series will take place on Sunday afternoons, 3-6 p.m., on Jan. 26, Feb. 9, Feb. 23, March 8, March 22, and April 5 at FutureHeights’ offices at Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Campus, 2843 Washington Blvd.

Topics are: Individual Leadership; Asset Based Community Development; Planning Your Project; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Policy & Advocacy, Learning the History of Cleveland Heights and Your Neighborhood; Leveraging Community Resources; and Building Community. All Cleveland Heights residents are encouraged to apply to participate. Free childcare is during sessions.

The application deadline is 5 p.m., Jan. 17. The simple, two-page application can be found at www.futureheights.org/programs/community-building-programs. For more information, call 216-320-1423 or e-mail sbasu@futureheights.org.