Application Now Open for Grant County for Fall 2025

Deadline: June 30

Strong leaders are key to strong communities. That’s why the Community Foundation of NCW is taking a proactive role in training our next generation of leaders by launching The Leadership Institute of NCW to empower community members to become advocates for children, families, and communities. This program helps participants develop the civic skills necessary to connect with local government, analyze civic issues, and bring about change.

Participants benefit by acquiring tools that include:

• How local and state government works
• What public policy is
• Understanding budgets and resource allocations
• Ways to reach local, state, and elected leaders
• Voting and why it matters
• How to lead group discussions and gather ideas
• How to work within diversity in the community
• Ways to empower the community

The Leadership Institute of NCW is a bilingual (Spanish & English) 20-session training program that utilizes the nationally renowned Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) framework and curriculum. PLTI has partnered with parents and community leaders across the country for over 30 years. While the course is provided at no cost to you, consistent participation and commitment to the full course is vital to the success of the program. Please consider whether this is the right program at the right time for you. Family dinner and childcare is provided.

TRAINING

Leaders are offered four phases of training:

• A retreat to develop group cohesion and define mission;
• A 10-session course on personal leadership;
• A 10-session study of civics, policy, and media; and
• A community project to practice the learning within a community context.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE

Anyone (18+) with a desire to improve the lives of children, families, and communities! This includes parents, grandparents, foster parents, single people, young adults, veterans, and community members. Participants must be interested in learning within a diverse cohort of local leaders.

HOW TO APPLY

Application will be available in English and Spanish.

Participants will be selected from a large pool of applicants based on those who have an interest in leadership, seek to improve the community for the sake of children and the next generation, and are interested in learning within a group of diverse leaders. Accepted applicants will be invited for an interview; class size is limited to 30.

CLASS SCHEDULE

• Location: City Council Chambers, Ephrata City Hall. Childcare and meals will be held at the Ephrata Recreation Center.
• Times: Weekly classes September 2025 - January 2026
• Retreat: Saturday, September 20, 2025
• NOTE: Retreat is mandatory and you cannot miss more than 3 sessions during the course to graduate (Saturday classes are 2 sessions in one day).