NLDP Graduate Spotlight: Becca Britton

Neighborhood Pets Outreach & Resource Center opened its doors in 2016 as a program of a larger non-profit and has recently become an independent 501c3. The concept of a "pet retention" program was new to the animal welfare community in Ohio and required a unique and progressive approach. We worked diligently to educate people on why supporting pet owners who experience financial hardship is ultimately in the best interest of the pet, notwithstanding the fact that it improves the quality of life for the pet owner.

As a new organization, and a new concept to most, Neighborhood Pets worked to establish itself as a trusted resource in the community through maintaining a positive, welcoming and non-judgmental environment where people could come with their pets and feel comfortable asking for help. With the intention of building trust in the community and with our clients, Neighborhood Pets began hosting regular community and client appreciation events at the resource center in Slavic Village.

We have seen a spike in the demand for our services, as well as the needs shifting a bit, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The climate during the pandemic has been particularly taxing on our client care team so we began emphasizing self-care for our staff in order to continue to assist our clients and their needs. Despite the past year and its challenges, Neighborhood Pets was featured in the Humane Society of United States nationally published magazine in a four-page spread, in Cleveland Magazine and in a New York Times article.

My leadership has evolved from task-oriented project management to emphasizing staff support. By creating a more supportive environment and being in touch with the needs of my staff I can see everyone excelling, which ultimately leads to a sustainably-run non-profit organization.

Becca Britton, Executive Director of Neighborhood Pets Outreach & Resource Center
NLDP Cohort II
Spread the Word: NLDP is Hiring!

The Neighborhood Leadership Development Program is hoping to hire a Program Coach. We are looking for someone who has a working knowledge of organizations within Cleveland and its inner ring suburbs plus an understanding of leadership development coaching methods and procedures. Preference will be given to applicants who have formal coaching experience and two or more years of experience working within community organizations and/or schools.

The Program Coach provides individual coaching to assigned NLDP participants and NLDP graduates and attends all sixteen Saturday NLDP group sessions. The coach also assists the Lead Coach in administering and reviewing the Kolb Learning Styles Inventory and the Korn Ferry Emotional and Social Competency Inventory.

 
Help us spread the word! You can share our job posting in your communications and newsletters to your communities. Or, if you know of someone who may be interested in this position, please share the job posting with them. We appreciate your help!
Pre-Register for NLDP Cohort XIV Today
NLDP Cohort XIV Starts This September!

NLDP's pre-recruitment period for Cohort XIV is open! The goal of Cohort XIV Pre-recruitment is to gain a better sense of how many community leaders are interested in becoming a part of NLDP Cohort XIV and whether they feel comfortable gathering for in-person sessions, once it is safe to do so. We are hoping to begin Cohort XIV in late fall of 2021. The final decision on enrolling a new Cohort ultimately depends on the risk of COVID-19 and local and state health mandates in place at that time.

The official recruitment period for Cohort XIV will open Tuesday, May 4th. The deadline to submit an application will be Sunday, August 15th at 9pm. Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks.

This pre-recruitment interest form is designed to help NLDP as we plan for our next cohort and does not guarantee acceptance into the program. To review NLDP's 2019-2020 Curriculum Schedule, click here.

The deadline to submit a pre-recruitment interest form is Friday, April 30th. We encourage our readers to share this information with their networks. We appreciate your continued support!
"Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed." - Booker T. Washington
  • Neighborhood Connections is continuing to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to community groups to distribute in their neighborhoods. You can complete a request form here for supplies your group has a plan to fully distribute in the next 3 months.

  • COVID-19 Vaccine Spotter is an online tool that scans pharmacy chains in each state for available vaccine appointments. You can find available appointments at pharmacies in Ohio and across the U.S. View the tool here.

  • A mass coronavirus vaccination center has opened at Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center. The center has been operating 12 hours per day for seven days a week since March 17. The Wolstein Center may continue to offer two-dose vaccinations before closing. For more information, click here. Check your eligibility on the Ohio Department of Health's website.

  • Pandemic of Love is a grassroots, volunteer-driven initiative that began during the pandemic to help those in need. A network of over 1,500 volunteers worldwide connects those in need with people who can help with that need. Clevelanders can sign up to get help or give help.
Graduate Shout Outs
Special congratulations to...

Laylah Allen, Cohort XIII, for being featured in Cleveland.com.

Ariana Johnson, Cohort XI, for being featured in FreshWater Cleveland.

Joe Black, Cohort VIII, for his promotion to Health Equity Program Officer at Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland.

Dameyonna Willis, Cohort XII, for being featured in FreshWater Cleveland.

Diana Sette, Cohort IX, for being appointed to the Ward 15 Tree Canopy Steering Committee.

Tanya Holmes, Cohort VIII, for being appointed to the USDA's Cleveland Urban Agriculture County Farm Service Agency Committee.

Teresa McCurry, Cohort XII, for her feature in Fox 8 News' 'Remarkable Women' series.
Neighborhood Career Hotline

The Neighborhood Career Hotline, which launched March 31st, provides a new and simple way to get connected to job training opportunities. This resource is available to anyone 18 or older, including those who were involved in the criminal justice system. There are opportunities in IT, business, healthcare, manufacturing, and more.

How it works: call 216.399.3550 to find the resources you need to get to where you want to be. You can explore a new career path, find scholarships for credentialed training and connect to a network of employers with job openings.

This initiative is funded by The Fund for Our Economic Future and is supported by Burten, Bell, Carr Development Inc., Metro West Community Development Organization, Midtown Cleveland and Towards Employment.

Click here to learn more and to submit a contact form!
"Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love." - Martin Luther King Jr.
Access Tech

Access Tech is a technology-centered training initiative that aims to bring Cleveland residents the training resources, tools and expertise needed to advance and thrive in the growing tech industry. The program - which is powered by JumpStart and funded by Verizon - is perfect for job seekers, career builders, entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Access Tech provides FREE training programs in Foundational Digital Skills, Career Development and Business Formation and Growth. Individuals can customize their learning path to grow their skillset based on their personal interest and needs.

Share the flyer and visit their website learn more!
The Children's Museum of Cleveland: Virtual Programs & Socially-Distant Workshops

The Children's Museum of Cleveland (CMC) has spent the past year adapting its programming and services to continue serving and engaging with the community in the midst of the pandemic. CMC has created a series of videos and activities to encourage "play" at home. Children and families can learn about STEM, social studies, music, health, art, cooking and movement. The virtual activities can be found here.

CMC has also implemented safety measures for visitors and is now hosting interactive classes in a clean and safe environment. Current in-person classes and workshops include Toddler Time, Story Time and Mask-Intolerant Sessions (for guests who may have a health condition or sensory sensitivity that does not allow them to tolerate mask wearing). More information can be found here. Reservations can be also be made here for limited-attendance visits to the museum.

Visit the Children's Museum of Cleveland's website and Facebook page for more resources!

The Children's Museum of Cleveland is reopening on May 1st! Click here for more information.
“Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.” - Brené Brown
Recipes from NLDP Staff Kitchens: Pesto Chicken Tortellini and Veggies


Pesto Chicken Tortellini and Veggies
Recipe shared by Julia Ferra, NLDP Graduate Support Manager

Ingredients:
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 lb. chicken thighs (boneless and skinless, sliced into strips) 
  • 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes (drained of oil, chopped)
  • 1 lb. asparagus (ends trimmed, cut in half)
  • 1/4 cup basil pesto
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes
  • 1 cup tortellini
  • Salt

Directions:
  • In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil on medium heat.
  • Add sliced chicken thighs (seasoned with salt), 1/4 cup of chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cook everything on medium heat for 5-10 minutes, turning chicken slices over a couple of times, until the chicken is completely cooked through.
  • Remove the chicken and the sun-dried tomatoes from the skillet, leaving the oil in.
  • Add asparagus (ends trimmed), seasoned generously with salt, and 1/4 cup of sun-dried tomatoes to the same skillet.
  • Cook on medium heat for 5-10 minutes until asparagus is cooked through. Remove the asparagus to a serving plate.
  • Cook tortellini according to the package instructions, drain.
  • Add cooked chicken back to the skillet. Add basil pesto. Stir to coat and cook on low-medium heat until the chicken is reheated, 1 or 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
  • Add cooked tortellini and halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet with the chicken. Stir to combine. Add more pesto if desired.
  • Season with more salt if needed.
  • Add chicken, cherry tomatoes and tortellini to the serving plate with asparagus.

Makes 4 servings.

Enjoy!
Video of the Month: Bessie's Angels

To better market our videos on the NLDP YouTube page, we will be featuring one Graduate Grant video each month on our Graduate Alerts and Newsletters. NLDP graduates who apply for an NLDP Graduate Support Grant have the opportunity to request funds for a marketing video. We will be featuring these Graduate Grant videos over the next several months so you can learn more about what other graduates are doing in Cleveland.

This month's video features Tonya Perkins-Stoudermire, C-IX, and her organization Bessie's Angels. Watch here!
The Neighborhood Leadership Development Program is a Program of the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation.