Neighborhoods

Neighborhood Leadership Academy

Are you an up and coming leader? Know someone who is? Want to get involved in your community?

Since 2003, the City of Riverside has been offering this FREE training to all Riverside residents interested in developing the skills needed to become an effective neighborhood leader. This free 5-session course is designed to develop participants’ knowledge of our community, and sharpen personal leadership skills and abilities. Participants in the training learn how to become effective community organizers by learning about the various personality types and how to improve on their own interpersonal skills to be able to garner support to build a strong team of neighbors.

The aim of training is to empower people to build and foster community. The combination of resident participation and active neighborhoods contributes to the improvement of the quality of life in the City of Riverside. As we continue to meet the challenges of today’s society, residents and neighborhoods play an important role in preserving and improving what is best about our city.

The Neighborhood Leadership Academy is a valuable resource for all neighborhood leaders. The academy provides the following knowledge and tools it takes to organize their neighborhood by:

1. Developing potential neighborhood leaders in the community;
2. Increasing the formation of networks among neighborhood leaders;
3. Enhancing the ability of neighborhood to resolve problems on their own or in cooperation with other neighborhoods and/or institutions;
4. Teaching residents how to effectively and efficiently run community meetings, build support and consensus around neighborhood issues and various options that can be taken to achieve neighborhood goals.
5. Connecting residents to community resources by providing information on how to stay engaged in the community.

Qualifications:

• A Neighborhood Leadership application must be filled out and returned to the Housing and Neighborhoods Division of the City of Riverside.
• Applicants must live or work in the City of Riverside.
• Applicants must not have filed for or announced that they are a candidate for public office.
• Attendance to all five sessions is necessary in order to receive certificate of completion.

*A selection process will be conducted if the total applications received exceeds the maximum allowance.

For more information about the program, and/or a program application contact Hilda Gonzalez, at (951) 826-2390 or email: hgonzalez@riversideca.gov