NES Neighborhood Leadership Academy
The Near East Side Neighborhood Leadership Academy is designed to provide community members with the knowledge, relationships, and confidence to discover their existing leadership abilities and play a leading role in community change.
The academy will comprise of 9 sessions taking place over 17 weeks, beginning July 13th. Each session will primarily consist of a topic lecture or panel for the first half and then a series of activities for reflection and learning during the second half. Academy instructors will also provide resources and assign learning activities to enhance the learning experience throughout the week.
Focus Areas for 2024 Summer Cohort
Food Access – The Near East Side is often referred to as a “food desert” for its lack of ready and easy access to a variety of foods, but the food landscape on the NES is quickly growing and evolving. This focus area will explore developing a collaborative strategy for data collection, information sharing and distribution of food on the NES including bringing a grocery store to the community and convening existing partners.
Cultural/Historic Preservation – The Near East Side is affectionately known as the “Soul of the City” and home base for Black Columbus as such, history - both through physical places and spaces, and the stories we hold – and arts/culture are two of the community’s biggest assets. This focus area will address how we as an ever diversifying and growing community remain arbiters of the rich NES history and begin to blaze a new trail as we evolve with Columbus.
Multigenerational Connections - The Near East side has a plethora of assets and gifts among its community members, particularly its active and knowledgeable seniors and committed young residents. This focus area will focus on efforts to understand the possibilities and challenges of multi-generational community advocacy and how to make best use of those assets.
Participants will also be able to meet and interact with other community leaders from around the neighborhood, who will be connected to the academy through individual classes and ongoing interaction and mentorship.