Now Recruiting: NLDP Cohort XIX & CDCLP Cohort VI

Strong neighborhoods are shaped by leaders who are committed to growing their skills, deepening relationships, and leading with intention. This spring, the Neighborhood Leadership Development Program (NLDP) and the CDC Leadership Program (CDCLP) invite Cleveland leaders to take the next step in their leadership journey. Applications are now open for NLDP Cohort XIX and CDCLP Cohort VI.

NLDP Cohort XIX brings together engaged neighborhood leaders from across Cleveland who want to strengthen their leadership capacity and create more long-term, sustainable change while staying rooted in community. Through a skills‑based curriculum, individualized coaching, and long‑term graduate support, NLDP helps participants grow as leaders—and as neighbors.

NLDP sessions take place in Downtown Cleveland (with free parking!) every two-to-three Saturdays from 8:30am-4:30pm over the course of eleven months.

CDCLP Cohort VI is designed specifically for leaders working at or alongside Cleveland’s Community Development Corporations (CDCs). The ten‑month program combines practical learning, coaching, and access to graduate grants that directly support neighborhood‑based work.

CDCLP sessions take place in Downtown Cleveland (also with free parking!) every three-to-four Thursdays from 8:30am-5pm over the course of ten months.

Together, NLDP and CDCLP have supported over 400 engaged neighborhood leaders, strengthening grassroots efforts and CDCs across Cleveland’s neighborhoods.

Applications for both programs close Friday, July 31st. Learn more about our programs by visiting our websites: NLDP | CDCLP

NLDP Graduate Spotlight: Najah Muhammad, Cohort III

Najah Muhammad is the leading organizer of The People’s Budget Cleveland, a community-driven initiative currently piloting Cleveland’s first participatory budgeting (PB) process in Slavic Village. Through this pilot, residents who live, work, or study in Slavic Village have been able to generate ideas, collaborate on project proposals, and ultimately vote on how $100,000 will be invested back into their community.

Since launching in fall 2025, the PB Cleveland pilot has already achieved several key milestones:

• Slavic Village was selected as the pilot neighborhood.
• A Neighborhood Steering Committee was recruited and trained in participatory budgeting and community engagement practices.
• 125 community ideas were collected from residents and stakeholders across the neighborhood.
• 25+ Budget Delegates, supported by Proposal Development Coaches, transformed those ideas into 25 fundable project proposals.

Next phases for The People’s Budget Cleveland will begin by community canvassing and tabling to build excitement and awareness ahead of voting. Following the completion of the pilot, the team anticipates sharing a comprehensive community report.

Najah received her Masters of Public Administration from Cleveland State University and her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Najah has also been trained as a Certified Health & Wellness Coach, having co-facilitated the Women’s Health Consortium, which creates synergy among women’s health service providers on Cleveland’s east and west sides.

Najah's community work reflects her commitment to democratic leadership, collective power-building and ensuring that residents are at the center of decisions that impact their lives. Outside of her community-based activities, Najah is the proud mother of one highly creative son.

CDCLP Graduate Spotlight: Melissa Miller Sedlock, Cohort I

Since Melissa Miller Sedlock graduated from CDCLP in Cohort I, she and the Jefferson Puritas West Park CDC have both undergone significant and positive changes. The organization itself adopted it’s new name in 2022, while Melissa accepted a promotion to Executive Director of the organization in 2025. Since accepting that position her focus has been on guiding the organization and the neighborhood it serves into the future and beyond.

In 2024 Jefferson Puritas West Park was awarded a CDCLP Graduate Grant of $50,000 to help fund a master planning process for the organization. That process commenced at a community meeting attended by over 100 people in Fall 2025. Since then the team has been focused on collecting as much community input on the plan as possible. Melissa is particularly proud of the diversity of input that has been received. The master plan will be supplemented by a market study of Lorain Avenue that will elucidate commercial development opportunities in the neighborhood. The master plan is expected to be finished and adopted by the City of Cleveland in September and will serve as the guide for physical development of the neighborhood for the next 10 years.

Melissa does not just work in West Park, she also lives there with her husband, Mike and her pup, Lily. In her free time, she likes to be outdoors, hiking, skiing, and biking. She also lovingly cares for the office hermit crab named Toad, whom she has only seen twice but loves anyways.

Coaches Corner

Featuring: Adam Stalder, CDCLP Program Coach

From his early career supporting small businesses along West 25th Street to leading community development efforts across the West Side, Adam Stalder has spent his career connecting neighbors and helping communities turn vision into action. Most recently, he brings that commitment to his role as Director of Community Stabilization at the Cuyahoga County Land Bank—supporting neighborhoods citywide through thoughtful, people-centered development.

Adam enjoys building relationships with CDCLP participants and working alongside them as they navigate challenges in their leadership journeys. He values the opportunity to listen, help them think through issues and support them in finding solutions that work for their organizations and communities.

It is especially rewarding for Adam to see their leadership growth over time and watching participants gain confidence, develop new skills and realize that they can continue to grow and succeed within the CDC industry. Seeing that transformation and knowing he played a role in supporting it is what makes coaching so meaningful to him.

We’re grateful for Adam’s leadership and unwavering belief in Cleveland’s neighborhoods.

Community Alert: NLDP & CDCLP Hit the Streets!

You may have spotted some familiar faces around Cleveland lately—and yes, they were on a mission. NLDP and CDCLP staff were out and about late last week, traveling across the many different neighborhoods in Cleveland to spread the word about NLDP Cohort XIX and CDCLP Cohort VI.

With our brand-new recruitment cards designed by local firm Jetpack, we’re making sure leaders everywhere know that applications are open and the opportunity for better leadership is here.

If you find one of our recruitment cards in your neighborhood, take a few and help us share the excitement that recruitment season has arrived for NLDP & CDCLP!

CALLING ALL GRADUATES: Do you know of someone who should participate in one of our leadership programs?

Graduates On The Move

Connection, learning and leadership don’t stop at graduation. Our NLDP and CDCLP graduates have been gathering together to reconnect, build their capacity and explore new tools to support their work in Cleveland's neighborhoods.

We're looking forward to seeing our graduates this summer... stay tuned, grads, for exciting invitations to come your way soon!

CDCLP's Second-Annual New Year's Kickoff

In January, CDCLP graduates, coaches and current participants gathered to kick off the new year at CDCLP’s Second Annual New Year’s Kickoff. The evening centered on connection and celebration, bringing together leaders from across the cohorts for food, conversation and community. The event marked a strong start to 2026 and reaffirmed the power of relationships across the CDCLP network.

NLDP Connect & Collaborate

This February, NLDP hosted its Connect & Collaborate gathering, bringing graduates together to reconnect, reflect and deepen their relationships with their fellow cohorts. The event highlighted the reach of NLDP’s 332 graduates across Cleveland neighborhoods and reinforced the program’s commitment to ongoing support, leadership development and community change. And, most importantly, the graduates had FUN together!

A special shout-out to our talented and dedicated NLDP Graduate Committee for all of their hard work planning and coordinating our graduate activities!

Building Graduate Capacity: Using AI For Good

In April, NLDP and CDCLP graduates participated in capacity‑building sessions focused on using AI in their work, led by Amy Neumann of Good Plus Tech and Tondi Allen of Urban City Codes. At the two sessions held for each program's group of grads, we learned about practical ways leaders can think about AI as a tool to support strategy, efficiency and creative problem‑solving in community‑based work. These sessions reflect both programs’ continued commitment to equipping graduates with timely and relevant skills that, in the words of our presenters, free up more time to do more human things.

In The Community: Clean Up St. Clair Superior!

Community members are invited to roll up their sleeves for the 2nd Annual St. Clair Superior Cleanup, hosted by the St. Clair Superior Business Collective. This spring cleanup day is a chance to care for one of Cleveland’s historic neighborhoods while strengthening pride, connection and collaboration within the neighborhood.

The cleanup will take place on Saturday, June 13th, from 10am to 1pm, with volunteers meeting at Maple Lanes (6918 St. Clair Ave.) to begin. Efforts will focus on the St. Clair Ave. corridor from East 55th St. to East 72nd St. Volunteers and supply donations are welcome, and community members of all experience levels are encouraged to participate.

For more information, to volunteer, or to donate supplies, contact Monica Schnee at 216‑881‑0644 or mschnee@stclairsuperior.org.

Download the flyer or register here for the clean up.