Building Relationships that Change your Life

Change takes place in communities when residents take responsibility for and participate in their own initiatives for positive change. However, certain skills are necessary for those initiatives to be successful. A Flagship project established the Neighborhood Leadership Academy (NLA) to address this need for a skill-based leadership program.

NLA is targeted to current and emerging grassroots leaders in neighborhoods throughout Anne Arundel County, providing residents of Anne Arundel County communities with skill-based leadership training. NLA helps participants become adept in leadership roles by focusing on improving skills such as effective communications and building consensus. It is the only program of its kind in the state of Maryland.

If you are ready to assume personal responsibility for improving the quality of life within your community in Anne Arundel County, then contact us today. Experience our non-traditional teaching approaches that will nurture and develop your leadership skills. Typically, NLA runs from January to June.

The Neighborhood Leadership Academy is assisted, in part, by the Jerome S. & Grace H. Murray Foundation.

Components of Neighborhood Leadership Academy 2020

Neighborhood Leadership Academy (NLA) provides “grassroots” leadership training for individuals who are interested and committed to improving the quality of life in the county’s neighborhoods and communities with essential information and leadership skills.

NLA participants are trained to identify and assess community needs; to work with, engage and lead other citizens; and to better understand and gain access to existing resources and decision-makers affecting their communities.

NLA 2020 Program Overview

Session Topics:

Participants meet for 6 sessions (3 weekday nights/3 Saturdays) over 6 months to develop their leadership skills and understanding of the following topics:

• Communicating effectively
• Understanding leadership
• Assessing community needs
• Appreciating diversity
• Developing and accessing resources
• Managing finances
• Building communities through partnerships and collaborations
• Familiarizing with local governments

Dates: 2020

Session 1 – Effective Communication – Saturday, January 25, 2020 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Session 2 – Assessing Community Needs – Thursday, February 27, 2020 from 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Session 3 –  Community Needs and Conflict Resolution skills – Saturday, March 28, 2020 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Session 4 –  Resources Round Up –Thursday, April 23, 2020 from 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Session 5 – Practical Skills in Leadership | Familiarizing with Local Governments – Saturday, May 16, 2020 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Session 6 –  Facing our Fears Finding our Focus –Thursday, June 18, 2020 from 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm

TRIBUTE (Graduation)  Tuesday, June 23, 2020 Time TBD

How You Can Participate:

Approximately 15-25 people are selected each year to participate in the Neighborhood Leadership Academy.  Tuition for participants is paid through grants and support for local businesses and organizations.

Application and Selection:

Applications are no longer being accepted for the 2020 NLA Class. Applications for the 2021 class will be accepted starting in September of 2020. The online application will be available on this page at that time.

If you have questions, please call the LAA Office at (410) 571-9798 or contact us at info@leadershipaa.org.

NLA participants are selected based on their sincere concern for the county, and on their commitment to make a difference in their community.