Strengthening and Connecting Leaders Across Communities

Join the Neighborhood Leadership Program (NLP)

The Amherst H. Wilder Foundation, in collaboration with the Minnesota Historical Society, is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the Neighborhood Leadership Program (NLP).

What is NLP?

NLP is an in-depth program that gathers 20-30 changemakers over the course of seven months in order to explore deeper engagement in our community while further developing individual leadership skills and networks in order to take effective action. NLP reflects a shared, collaborative leadership model and philosophy based on the belief that all people can be changemakers. NLP operates on a framework of developing an awareness of self and effective working relationships, which lead to meaningful action. We believe that this framework serves to develop and sustain healthy and thriving communities.

Thanks to our collaboration with the Minnesota Historical Society, the program also provides participants with the opportunity to not only learn more about our community history but also how that knowledge can contribute to us taking effective action today.

Why Participate in NLP?

By participating in the program, you will:

•  Explore further opportunities for neighborhood involvement and personal growth

•  Engage and connect with a diverse learning community of leaders and changemakers in Saint Paul, who become resources, mentors, allies, and a network for your work

•  Develop skills to work effectively with others from a broad range of backgrounds, ages and cultures

•  Examine and cultivate personal leadership

•  Expand your knowledge of community history to inform your actions today

Who Participates?

We encourage people from diverse gender, geography, age, and cultural/ethnic backgrounds to apply. Participants should:

•  Be 16 years of age or older

•  Demonstrate interest and/or involvement in contributing to the community

•  Make a commitment to attend all program session from September - March

•  Pay aregistration fee of $200 or locate a sponsor (limited scholarships are available)

Please note: While not required, priority is given to people who live, work or volunteer in Saint Paul

Training Methodology and Topics

NLP sessions are designed to address multiple learning styles while engaging participants in interactive, experiential learning activities. Examples of possible training topics include:

·  Understanding Your Leadership Style

·  Intercultural Communication and Conflict Fluency

·  Navigating Systems

·  Organizing for Effective Action

·  Using Community History to Inform Your Current Work

Coaching

Each participant is matched with a Community Coach who serves as an important learning partner and resource for the program. A Coach asks questions, listens, shares their experiences, and serves as a key resource both during and after the program year.

Session Dates, Times, and Locations

All sessions are held in Saint Paul at the Wilder Foundation and the Minnesota History Center.

NLP is committed to reducing barriers to participation. Child care and transportation to sessions are available within Saint Paul – please request them on your application. Participants are expected to attend all sessions.

The dates and times of the sessions are as follows:

September 2017 – March 2018
Orientation
Tuesday, September 19, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Retreat – In-town
4:00 pm – 9:00 pm Friday, September 29
9:00 am - 4:00 pm Saturday, September 30
Sessions
Tuesday, October 10, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm with coaches
Saturday, October 21, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Saturday, November 4, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Saturday, November 18, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Tuesday, December 5, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Saturday, December 16, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm with coaches
Tuesday, January 16, 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Saturday, February 3, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Saturday, February 17, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm with coaches
Saturday, March 10, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Graduation
Wednesday, March 14, 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Program Cost and Required Fee

Each participant or their sponsors are required to pay a $200 registration fee. If you need help identifying a sponsor organization or a scholarship, please indicate so when you receive notification of your acceptance. NLP spends approximately $4,000 on each participant. Thus, we ask participants, or their sponsors, to contribute more than the registration fee whenever possible.

To Apply: Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 4. For more information, please call Coulette Columbus-Powers at 651-280-2457, email , or visit our website at www.wilder.org/nlp.html

Neighborhood Leadership Programs Application

(Due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 4, 2017)

Submit Application to: Coulette Columbus-Powers, Neighborhood Leadership Programs, 451 Lexington Parkway N, Saint Paul, MN 55104, by email to or by fax to 651-280-3366

First Name Last Name Gender ____

Gender Pronouns* (circle one): she/her he/him they/them other (please specify): ______

Address Teen___ Adult ___

City State Zip

Phone: Home or Cellular Work

E-Mail: Home Work

Preferred Phone: Circle one H W Cell Preferred Email: Circle one H W

Childcare and transportation are available on a limited basis:

Childcare: I will need onsite childcare in order to attend sessions: Yes ____ No ____

If yes, I will need childcare for _____ (# of children) and they are the following ages: ______

(Childcare is available for children 16 months to 13 years old.)

Transportation: I will need transportation assistance to participate in the program: Yes _____ No____

(We work to help ensure full participation in the program by facilitating transportation where possible.)

Please complete the information below:

1.  What is your connection to Saint Paul: live, work, or volunteer?

(Priority is given to individuals who live, work, or volunteer in Saint Paul)

2.  How long have you lived, worked, or volunteered in Saint Paul?

3.  Why are you interested in participating in this program?

4.  Based on the NLP framework, 1) awareness of self; 2) effective working relationships; and 3) engaging in meaningful action, which of the three areas are you most interested in developing, and why?

*We ask for gender pronouns in order to appropriately address you in all correspondence,

as well as to put them correctly on your nametag.

Name: ______

5.  In what ways have you been involved in collaborative efforts in your neighborhood or community?

(may also include schools, faith-based organizations or other settings)

6.  In considering your involvement in the activities listed above:

a)  What were your strengths?

b)  What were your challenges?

7.  Please tell us about a topic or issue of interest to you in your community. Be sure to include why you are interested.

8.  If accepted into this program, you will be committed to attending the retreat and all program sessions. Please check one of the following boxes.

r I am committed to attending all sessions if accepted into the program

(Please see the NLP information sheet for a complete list of dates.)

r I am unable to commit to all sessions, but would still like to be considered for the program.

If you check this box, please explain which session(s) you will miss and why:

Please tell us how you heard about NLP:

Listserve, which one: / Past Participant, who:
Organization, which one: / Past Coach, who:
Friend, who: / Wilder Website
Other, please be specific

Submit Application to: Coulette Columbus-Powers, Neighborhood Leadership Programs, 451 Lexington Parkway N, Saint Paul, MN 55104, by email to or by fax to 651-280-3366