The Community Foundation of NCW is now accepting applications for its next Leadership Institute of NCW which will be held in Grant County. The Leadership Institute of NCW is a free 20-session bilingual training program to teach personal leadership, public policy, and advocacy skills. Each leader will develop a community project to benefit their schools, neighborhoods, community, and families. The deadline to apply is June 30, 2025.

The curriculum was developed by the Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI), a Connecticut-based family civics initiative. For the past 30 years, PLTI has partnered with parents and community leaders to improve child outcomes, advance democracy, and increase racial equity through the civic engagement of families and community. More than 10,000 people from throughout the United States have graduated from the PLTI program.

The Leadership Institute of NCW is being guided by a Civic Design Team, which is made up of representatives from Big Bend Community College, Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbia Basin, CAFÉ (Community Advancement of Family Education), CBA Arts, City of Ephrata, Columbia Basin Foundation, Communities in Schools of NCW, Community Foundation of NCW, Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce, Grant County Coalition, Grant County Public Utility District, Microsoft, Moses Lake Community Coalition, NCW Libraries, NCW Tech Alliance, Quincy School District, Soap Lake Prevention Coalition, Thriving Together NCW, North Central Early Learning Coalition, and Unidos Nueva Alianza Foundation. Organizations that are interested in joining the Civic Design Team are welcome to get in touch.

As a strategy to combat a decline in civic engagement over the last 50 years, the goal of the program is to educate and empower community members for civic leadership positions in the region.

“We believe that part of building stronger communities means empowering people to learn about and participate in service to their community” said Beth Stipe, the Foundation’s executive director. “Whether it’s volunteering in service clubs, joining nonprofit boards, or participating in local government, residents that are engaged become committed to making their communities great places to live, work, and play. The Leadership Institute of NCW was established to inspire residents, no matter their background, to learn about their local civics and leadership and get involved in making their community a better place for all.”

The Leadership Institute of NCW is a direct result of the Our Valley Our Future Action Plan’s ‘Diverse Leadership’ game changer, which was identified as a community priority. The game changer was crafted from input received from more than 2,000 residents, who saw the need for future leaders that better reflect the region’s demographics. Among the community benefits: deeper community participation, more robust ideas and perspectives, strengthening of democratic institutions, improved problem solving in local governments, and greater community resiliency.

Recently, the first Leadership Institute of NCW cohort in Wenatchee graduated, with a proclamation at City Hall and a ceremony at the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center. As part of the training, students are charged with creating a Community Project to practice their new leadership skills in their community. Projects include: running for school board, safe spaces for youth, technology assistance program, and improving veteran services.

The PLTI curriculum is evidence-based and has been proven to lead to profound changes in people’s civic, personal, and family lives. These changes are the result of intentional efforts to develop relationships across differences, to treat each person with dignity, and to empower community members to lead through developing their civic knowledge and skills.

One graduate shared “I spend more time thinking about how I can build unity or focus on our assets, rather than focusing on problems and division which I think will serve me and our communities best. I have an increased understanding of government process and ways to be involved.”

Applications are now open for the Leadership Institute of NCW in Grant County. Classes will be held at City Hall in Ephrata with family meals and childcare at the Ephrata Recreation Center.

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