Educating and empowering community members for civic leadership positions in NCW

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 is a family civic initiative of the Connecticut Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity, and Opportunity. 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, as well as a stipend upon graduation.

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. Acceptance into the program is not based on education, work experience, or immigration status.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online in English or 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 25.

Application deadline is June 30th.

CLASS SCHEDULE

• Location: In person at Wenatchee Valley College campus, Wenatchee
• Times: Weekly on Wednesday evenings from 5:30 – 8:30 PM and three “Super Saturdays” from 9:00 – 3:00 PM on October 12, November 16, January 11.
• Retreat: Saturday, September 21, 2024 from 9:00 – 4:00 PM at Wenatchee Valley College
• 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).

Questions?

Email claire@cfncw.org or call the office at (509) 663-7716