NLDP Cohort XVI's Session 5 | |
NLDP & CDCLP Recruitment is Now Open!
Our two leadership programs, Neighborhood Leadership Development Program (NLDP) and Community Development Corporation Leadership Program (CDCLP), are recruiting for the next two leadership cohorts, to begin later this year.
Both leadership programs, provided at no-cost by the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation, are designed to provide neighborhood leaders with new tools to serve their communities better. NLDP engages leaders who are working to better their communities, either by leading a nonprofit or grassroots projects. CDCLP engages leaders who are working within the Community Development Corporation (CDC) sector to improve Cleveland's neighborhoods.
NLDP is actively recruiting for Cohort XVII with applications due by Wednesday, August 14th; while CDCLP is recruiting for its Cohort IV with applications due by Friday, August 2nd.
Learn more about our programs by...
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NLDP Cohort XVI's Neighborhood Tour | | |
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NLDP Spotlight: Cohort XVI
In August of 2023, grassroots community leaders interviewed for Cohort XVI of the Neighborhood Leadership Development Program (NLDP). These leaders hailed from all across Cleveland, serving the neighborhoods in a multitude of ways. Out of 81 applications, 22 leaders were selected and have since completed the 16-session program designed to add new leadership tools to their toolboxes.
"NLDP provided a motivating and supportive environment for passionately driven leaders to connect, learn, and excel. I was once told leadership can be lonely because not many people are dedicated to the level of time, dedication, and sacrifice required - I'll never be a lonely leader thanks to NLDP!" …Sara Szelagowski, Cohort XVI
To learn more about the 22 graduates of NLDP's Cohort XVI, click here.
Following the graduation of Cohort XVI, NLDP's graduate network grew to a total of *310* graduates. That means there are over 300 leaders working passionately and tirelessly in Cleveland's neighborhoods to make them better for generations to come.
Congrats to Cohort XVI on their graduation, and for helping us reach our 300+ milestone!
Click here to see recent photos of our graduates celebrating our 300+ milestone!
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NLDP's Graduate Support Session, NLDP Unites Against Gun Violence, is on Saturday, August 24th, from 8:30am-3:30pm. Contact Marcia Shepherd at mshepherd@nldpcleveland.com for more information and to register!
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CDCLP Cohort III Graduates | |
CDCLP Spotlight: Cohort III
This June, the Community Development Corporation Leadership Program (CDCLP) celebrated the graduation of 18 more CDC leaders from the program. Having committed 14 Thursdays to bettering themselves, CDCLP's Cohort III connected leaders from different CDCs across Cleveland to learn and grow their leadership together.
"CDCLP didn't just teach me how to lead; it taught me when I should stand up or sit down, where I should focus my efforts or maximize efficiency, and what I can or shouldn't do for my community. But most importantly, CDCLP taught me how to navigate all of the above to become an asset for change." ...Shneur Kushner, Cohort III
To learn more about the 18 graduates of CDCLP's Cohort III, click here.
Congrats to Cohort III's dedicated CDC leaders on their graduation from CDCLP!
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CDCLP's Two-Part Graduate Support Session is on Thursday, July 11th from 8:30am-3pm. Join us for capacity building focused on trauma-informed leadership and navigating local politics. Contact Jillian Svala at jsvala@cdclp.org for more information and to register!
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"Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you."
-Ruth Bader Ginsburg-
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Shared by: Melissa Miller Sedlock, CDCLP Graduate Cohort I | |
Calling All NLDP & CDCLP Graduates: Do You Need Support?
Have you felt that there is something missing for you, professionally? Would you, and your leadership, benefit from objective support and coaching? Look no further!
Both NLDP and CDCLP believe deeply in coaching and the benefits of it. Following graduation, ALL program graduates have unlimited access to coaching sessions with their coach, at no cost to them. Here are a few ways your coach can help you...
- Accountability
- Building Confidence
- Creating Goals & Improving Leadership
- Further Skill Development
- Enhanced Decision-Making and Problem-Solving
- ... and so much more!
Our coaches are waiting for your call, will you take the next step? Contact Marcia if you need help connecting to your NLDP coach, or contact Jillian if you need help connecting to your CDCLP coach.
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Centerpieces at CDCLP & NLDP Graduations | |
A Big Thank You to BigHearted Blooms!
This year, we decided to brighten up the rooms at graduation with centerpieces from local nonprofit, BigHearted Blooms. BigHearted Blooms is located in St. Clair Superior and is on a mission to deliver joy through recycled flowers. By bringing bouquets and personal moments of connection, BigHearted Blooms boosts the emotional health of those facing a variety of life challenges.
We want to formally thank BigHearted Blooms for creating beautiful centerpieces for our graduation ceremonies, which a few lucky grads and guests got to take home. Joy was definitely delivered at NLDP and CDCLP through these flowers!
Learn more about their impact in the community.
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In 2024, following an increase in grant funds, NLDP's Graduate Support Grant Program awarded 18 grants to graduates, totaling $150,000 in direct-service community investments.
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NLDP's Graduate Support Session on Leading with a Trauma-Informed Lens
In April of this year, around 25 NLDP graduates traveled back to Trinity Commons for a half-day Saturday session focused on Leading with a Trauma-Informed Lens. This session focused on defining trauma, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), the difference between disorder and distress, and much more to assist us in better understanding how trauma effects those we work with in the community.
This heavy but important session was instructed by Amy Korsch-Williams and Ivan Conard from The Center on Trauma and Adversity at Case Western Reserve University. At the end of the day, the graduates who were present gathered around the room in a circle (pictured above) to lock hands and share one word in reflection of the day.
NLDP Graduates who missed this session... don't worry, it will be back very soon!
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"I have learned that 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-
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Shared by: Jeff Barkas, NLDP Graduate Cohort VII | |
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Stephanie Wahome-Lassiter, NLDP Cohort VI, Linda Howard, NLDP Cohort XVI, Carl & Lavita Ewing, NLDP Cohorts XIII & XI, for being awarded significant grants from the Saint Luke's Foundation.
Makanya Smith, NLDP Cohort XIII, for being named winner of the Teen Mental Health Award on behalf of NAMO Greater Cleveland.
Caroline Peak, NLDP Cohort X, on her retirement from Cleveland Public Library following 21 years of service.
Donna Dixon, NLDP Cohort XVI, for being named one of the 24 Emerging Professionals You Need to Know in 2024 by Engage Cleveland.
Michelle Walsh, NLDP Cohort XIV, for being appointed Executive Director of Goods Bank NEO.
Shanelle Moon, NLDP Cohort XIII, for starting a new position as Community Impact Manager at PCs for People.
Rosemary Mudry, CDCLP Cohort I, for starting a new job as Executive Director of the Cleveland Public Market Corporation.
Tiffany Allen White, CDCLP Cohort I, for starting a new job as Director of Operations and Facilities at Cleveland Public Market Corporation.
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Before (above) & After (below) photos of Harvard Community Services Center | | |
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Harvard Community Services Center Gets a New Look
In 2022, NLDP was faced with a very challenging task - honoring the lives of graduates from our program. In partnership with Harvard Community Services Center (HCSC), we have established The NLDP Honor Park to honor those graduates who we've lost, but who dedicated so much of themselves to changing Cleveland for the better. We have since planted three memorial trees.
In order to create a more welcoming space for the friends and families of our graduates, NLDP worked with Richard Goudreau (NLDP Cohort IX & CDCLP Cohort I Graduate; Assistant Director of HCSC) and Elaine Golhstein (Executive Director of HCSC) to enhance the Center's landscaping and greenspaces. This work and future improvements will allow for the NLDP Honor Park to remain at the Center, with our graduate's trees being lovingly maintained by Richard and the Western Reserve Land Conservancy.
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CDCLP: Graduate Support Session, Leading with a Trauma-Informed Lens & Navigating the Political Waters of Cleveland
- Thursday, July 11th, 8:30am-3pm
- Contact Jillian Svala at jsvala@cdclp.org for more information and to register.
NLDP: The Cleveland Foundation Annual Meeting
- Thursday, July 18th, 4-5:30pm, reception to follow
- The Cleveland Foundation will be highlighting local leadership programs at their upcoming annual meeting, and that will include NLDP! They will feature one of our graduates who will represent the 300+ network of graduates.
- To join us at the Cleveland Foundation's Annual Meeting, email Marcia Shepherd at mshepherd@nldpcleveland.com.
NLDP: Graduate Support Session, NLDP Unites Against Gun Violence
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