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NeighborWorks

Community Leadership Institute

Training Opportunity

Every year hundreds of people from all around the country gather to learn about new ways to improve neighborhoods. The three-dayNeighborWorks Community Leadership Institute (CLI) eventfocuses on sharing ideas and successful solutions to the problems and issues facing many communities across the country. At the CLI, participants will attend workshops designed to inspire, build their skills, and get new ideas that they can bring back to their own communities. This year’s Institute will be held October 11-14 in Houston, TX. For more information, go to

This grant opportunity offers the chance for a team of up to 7 community representatives to attend this event in order to work for positive changes within their neighborhood or community. The grant award covers tuition, airfare, ground transportation, food, and shared hotel costs. This year the training will take place in October, and at least 3 members of the awarded group’s leadership must be able to attend this training. (If your group only has 3-4 members that attend, you must be willing to work with an additional neighborhood group during the conference.)This grant is a part of the Neighborhood Grant Program in partnership with the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, and is available to residents of Boone, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago counties.

After the team(s) attends the event and meets some additional requirements, they will work with HomeStart to apply for an additional $2,000 to implement a community-based project. Possible projects include neighborhood festivals, community clean-ups, neighborhood safety projects, etc.

HomeStart will select 1-2 teams per year for this opportunity.

Applications will be accepted from May 4, 2018, through 5p on June 5, 2018. Please download this form and submit via email to , or deliver to HomeStart at 803 N Church Street, Rockford. Questions about the CLI Training Opportunity or about the application should be directed to Sarah Brinkmann at 815-962-2011.

The decision will be made by June 12, and the winning team will be asked to have the names of all participants toHomeStart no later than June 22, 2018. All applicants should have their list of participants ready to go.

In order to apply for this opportunity, please answer the following questions:

  1. Name of Group Applying:
  1. Contact info:
  1. How long has the group been in existence?
  1. If your answer to #3 is less than 2 years, what brought your group together?
  1. If your answer to #3 is more than 2 years, please list 1 – 3 projects your group has completed together, specifying the timeline it took from idea to completion.
  1. If your group is selected, you would be eligible for $2,000 to complete a community-based project. What issues, problems, or needs might your group address?
  1. Currently, how many people would commit to attending if your group is selected (minimum of 3, maximum of 7)? The Institute will be held October 12-15 in Los Angeles, CA.
  1. Why do you think attending this training will be beneficial to your group?