NeighborWorks ® Community Leadership Institute (CLI): Ignite launched this month with groups of residents gathering to connect and learn. A virtual adaptation of the traditional CLI, which brings together resident leaders for a weekend of training and inspiration, this year’s event is designed to meet people where they live.
“We’ve found that travel has been difficult and budgets have been tight for our network organizations,” said Sarah Parmenter, Senior Director of Community Building & Engagement at NeighborWorks America. “We wanted to shift for this year to make sure no one gets left behind. Our goal is to have the organizations convene residents locally while engaging with workshops that will help them elevate their voices and move their organizations forward.”
The event begins with Ignite Day, where organizations participate together in activities and two recorded workshops. Organizations can celebrate Ignite Day any time between now and the end of December. To participate in the live trainings, which will be held Nov. 4-7, organizations must register their teams by Oct. 31. Topics range from Getting – and Keeping – People involved in Small Towns and Rural Areas to Promoting Community Health and Mental Wellbeing.
So far, 50 organizations have signed up for CLI: Ignite.
“Our group was really engaged with the recorded sessions,” said Kimberly Lorensberg, a group leader with GROW South Dakota. “They had really good conversations during the pauses.” The group liked being able to work at their own pace, she said.
Lorensberg attended a past CLI in San Francisco, California, and several of her group members attended when the CLI was held in Baltimore, Maryland. “They felt the training was so valuable, they wanted to bring in additional community leaders, and especially some youth to participate,” she said.
Her biggest takeaway so far? “It was very valuable to see the leadership styles throughout our community group and where everyone's strengths are,” she said. “It was very insightful to see we had a fairly balanced group between the four styles.”
Other participants have said the opening activities were meaningful, creating space for discussion and interaction to help the experience feel relevant locally.
“We hope the residents leave the workshops with tools that will help them carry their work forward,” Parmenter said.
Watch our inspiring opening video.
