Program
Curriculum
Welcome and Orientation Session
Session 1: NLC Retreat
Friday and Saturday
Session 2 : Personal Goal Setting and Time
Management
Session 3: Conflict Resolution
Session 4: Discovering Community Assets
and Neighborhood Link
Session 5: Cleveland and its Neighborhoods:
A Look Back
Session 6: Neighborhood Tour
Session 7: Neighborhoods and Public Policy:
A Look Forward
Urban Sprawl and Can-Do Database
Session 8: Community Organizing
Session 9: Neighborhoods and Public Policy:
A Look Forward
Welfare Reform and Labor Force Development
Session 10: Course Summary and Preparation
for Group Presentations
Session 11: Group Project Presentations
Session 12: Greater Cleveland Neighborhood
Forum
Course Summary and Evaluation
WELCOME AND ORIENTATION SESSION
Description: The objectives of this opening session are
to:
· familiarize participants with each other
· recognize the assets and diversity of the participants
· identify the similar experiences of the participants
concerning their personal or family life and their neighborhood.
Process/Activities:
Participants are welcomed by CSU officials and our program
partner, Neighborhood Centers Association. Their remarks
address the purpose and guiding principles of the Neighborhood
Leadership Cleveland. NLC program staff will provide an
orientation of the training program and expectations. There
will be a reception to meet other NLC participants.
SESSION
1: NLC RETREAT
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
Description:
The retreat offers the opportunity to create a new and ongoing
community of leadership by building relationships among
participants.
Process/Activities:
A series of exercises to assist members of the "class"
in getting to know each other, to become aware of what they
share in common, to learn from each other and explore their
diversity. Participants learn how groups work and identify
the values that are important to them and underlie their
leadership experiences. Participants will also define community
issues and participate in exercises that explore how decisions
are made and methods to increase participation and inclusiveness.
Social time will be an integral part of the retreat.
SESSION
2: PERSONAL GOAL SETTING & TIME MANAGEMENTDescription:
The objective
of this session is for each participant to learn personal
goal setting skills and to apply those skills by doing a
personal action plan, including a timeline and the identification
of opportunities and barriers to achieving personal goals.
Personal plans will not be disclosed with fellow participants
to ensure and respect one's privacy. A key to realizing
goals is being able to manage one's time. This session will
give practical time management skills to participants.
Process/Activities:
Instructor presentation, individual application and group
discussion. Individual exercises will help participants
set priorities and learn how to balance the many demands
on a person's time and energy.
SESSION
3: CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Description: This session allows participants to learn strategies
for effective dealing with interpersonal differences. Conflict
can be a negative force if not handled well, but it can
also be an opportunity to learn more about yourself and
others, and to improve communication. Special attention
will be given to inviting a diversity of opinion and ways
to keep a diverse range of people involved in a group.
Process/Activities:
Group exercises; personal reflection time and role-plays
will be used to put into practice conflict resolution concepts
and strategies. The role of communication and negotiation
skills will be explored to help people focus on interests,
not positions. Participants will have a chance to discuss
what they have found to be effective ways to manage conflict.
Finally, the class will divide into the project groups and
use conflict resolution strategies to identify each person's
interests and needs related to completing the group project.
SESSION
4: DISCOVERING COMMUNITY ASSETS & NEIGHBORHOOD LINK
Description: Participants will present their experiences
and views of community, defining the relationships upon
which community is built and sustained. The session will
also explore what is community in practice, what are the
different roles that make a community, and ways that work
to keep people involved. This session introduces participants
to a new way of thinking about neighborhoods. It provides
a framework for understanding a neighborhood as a collection
of assets and the tools for community building based on
identifying neighborhood assets (individuals, associations,
organizations and institutions) and key stakeholders.
Process/Activities:
The process will draw on the group's knowledge, more than
that of the facilitators. Instructor presentation, hands-on
exercise, discussion and video will be used.
SESSION
5: CLEVELAND AND ITS NEIGHBORHOODS: A LOOK BACKDescription:
This session provides a historical overview of the ethnic
and racial migration patterns of Cleveland and its impact
on neighborhood development with an emphasis on ethnic experiences.
The history of the settlement house movement and the beginnings
and evolution of Neighborhood Centers Association (NCA)
and community responses to neighborhood change are also
presented.
Process/Activities:
Instructor presentation, question and answers and video
presentation.
SESSION
6: NEIGHBORHOOD TOUR
Description:
The neighborhood tour is designed as a hands-on opportunity
for participants to work together as a team to research
and plan a tour of their respective neighborhood highlighting
the history, strengths and concerns of the community.
Process/Activities:
Participants will address the following questions during
the tour of their neighborhood:
1. What is unique about your neighborhood?
What are your neighborhood's assets?
What makes it a neighborhood?
2. What are the challenges to your neighborhood?
What are concerns about your neighborhood?
What is the future of your neighborhood?
Ample
opportunity will be provided for other participants to provide
information on, or comment about, a connection they might
have to the neighborhood.
SESSION
7: NEIGHBORHOODS AND PUBLIC POLICY: A LOOK FORWARD
URBAN SPRAWL & CAN-DO DATABASE
Description:
This session focuses on urban sprawl, another "outside
force" that impacts Cleveland and its neighborhoods.
Historic and recent population trends are presented with
an examination of how public policies influence where urban
and suburban growth or decline occurs. The impact of these
policies and trends on Cleveland neighborhoods will be a
special focus of the discussion.
Process/Activities:
Instructor presentation, case studies and group discussion.
SESSION
8: COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
Description: This session introduces participants to the
key principles of community organizing, history of community
organizing in Cleveland, and present community organizing
activities and strategies. Discussion will focus on participants'
present community organizing activities. Jacquie Gillon
will moderate a presentation by NLC graduates involved in
community organizing today.
Process/Activities:
Presentation, group discussion and case studies.
SESSION
9: NEIGHBORHOODS AND PUBLIC POLICY: A LOOK FORWARD
WELFARE REFORM AND LABOR FORCE DEVELOPMENT
Description: This session focuses on the "outside
forces" (push/pull dynamics) that impact Cleveland
and its neighborhoods, in particular welfare reform and
regional economic issues. Data on poverty and unemployment
rates are presented, including an analysis of the information
and a discussion of trends affecting workers and families
in Cleveland. Participants will also have the opportunity
to prepare for their upcoming group project presentations.
Process/Activities:
Instructor presentation, data analysis, and group discussion
SESSION
10: COURSE SUMMARY AND PREPARATION
FOR GROUP PRESENTATIONS
Description: This session gives the NLC staff an opportunity
to provide an overview of the course and discuss with participants
their questions and learning. The NLC team will also provide
useful tips on strengthening the group presentations. The
session will provide each group a block of time to complete
their preparation for their presentation to the class. NLC
staff will be available to work with each group and offer
suggestions for strengthening the presentation.
Process/Activities:
Instructor presentation, discussion and group planning session.
SESSION
11: GROUP PROJECT PRESENTATIONS
Description: The purpose of this exercise is to familiarize
participants with group process(s), strengthen public speaking
skills, and improve one's ability to summarize and present
new information. The project groups will be given the opportunity
to teach other class members what they have learned about
a critical issue facing Cleveland neighborhoods.
Process/Activities:
The session will involve dynamic presentations by each project
group, and may involve audio-visuals, exercises, lectures,
and discussion. Each group will determine how best to report
to the entire class about what they learned from their interviews
and research.
SESSION
12: GREATER CLEVELAND NEIGHBORHOOD FORUM
COURSE SUMMARY AND EVALUATION
Description:
This session is designed as a capstone to the training.
An elected official will discuss the relationship of neighborhood
development to the political process, and effective methods
to influence Cleveland government. A formal evaluation of
the NLC program is conducted which allows participants to
provide feedback on the NLC program.
Process/Activities:
Discussion and presentation
Written survey and focus groups
