Neighborhood Resident Leadership Certificate Program
Posted 08/10/07

A collaborative effort among several community partners has led to the creation of a comprehensive Neighborhood Resident Leadership Certificate Program, which kicks off this fall and will be held at the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Urban Campus. The program is designed to help citizens develop skills to more effectively lead in their neighborhoods, work with government and other institutions, and strengthen families and children throughout greater Des Moines.

The Neighborhood Resident Leadership Certificate Program is aimed at residents of the 51 Des Moines neighborhoods but is open to anyone desiring to hone their community leadership skills. For individuals living in certain low and moderate income neighborhoods in Des Moines, scholarships are available.

Individuals who complete 24 hours of core class instruction and 16 hours of electives will receive the Neighborhood Resident Leadership Certificate. Coursework can be completed during the fall semester time frame or spread out over several semesters.

The program was developed in partnership with the DMACC, Des Moines Neighbors, Making Connections Des Moines and Iowa State University-University Extension with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

DMACC developed and will teach the 24 hours of core leadership courses, which kick off Sept. 11 and finish Oct. 18. During these six weeks, students will learn key leadership skills such as effective communication, conflict management, and team building. DMACC, Des Moines Neighbors, Iowa State University-University Extension and Making Connections Des Moines are teaching the electives, which all begin this fall.

Classes will be offered again in the spring.

To receive more information about these classes or to register, individuals should first call Des Moines Neighbors at (515) 280-1807 at least two weeks prior to the start of classes to check their eligibility for scholarships. For those who are eligible for scholarships, Des Moines Neighbors will complete registration and make payments. All others should call DMACC at (515) 964-6800. Payment is due at time of registration.

Interested persons are encouraged to register early as space and scholarships are limited.

Core Curriculum
All core leadership classes will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the DMACC Urban Campus, 1100 7th St., Betts Bldg., Room 108. Each class costs $65.

• Communicating For Results, Course Registration #15287
  This class will teach effective communication and negotiation skills useful for influencing community leaders. Emphasis will be placed on relationship development, public presentations, building consensus and leadership styles. This class will be held Sept. 11 and 13.
• The Art of Influencing Others, Course Registration #15288
  Students will learn influencing strategies and how to package ideas to gain commitment from even the most skeptical person. This class will be held Sept. 18 and 20.
• Knowing Me, Knowing You, Course Registration #15291
  This session will focus on understanding how interaction styles and cultural differences impact the effectiveness of groups, so students can work well with anyone in the future. This class will be held Sept. 25 and 27.
• Handling Conflict and Change, Course Registration #15305
  In this course, strategies will be identified to help a team successfully overcome conflict and adapt to change. Topics will include conflict resolution styles, the nine steps of anger management, nonverbal responses, and natural reactions to change and how to deal with them. This class will be held Oct. 2 and 4.
• The Power of Working Together, Course Registration #15292
  This class will teach the characteristics of successful teams including understanding goals, placing people in the right places and building diversity. This class will be held Oct. 9 and 11.
• Leadership Building Blocks, Course Registration #15293
  This session will cover conducting effective meetings and strategic time management. It will be held Oct. 16 and 18.
• Neighborhood Resident Leadership Core, Course Registration #15313
  This inclusive course includes all individual core leadership classes previously listed. Take 6 classes, but pay for 5. Cost is $325.

Electives

• Planning and Structuring Neighborhood Associations, Course Registration #15300
  Get to know the basics needed to participate in a neighborhood association. Learn what planning elements are needed to successfully structure citizen and association leadership. The class, sponsored by Des Moines Neighbors, will be held Oct. 23 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the DMACC Urban Campus, Betts Bldg., Room 108. The cost is $30.
• Navigating City/County Governmental Relations, Course Registration #15368
  Neighborhood associations and individual citizens can be instrumental participants with involvement in the decision-making processes for local governments. Learn how to access the proper departments and receive informational tips for making the process less intimidating. This class, sponsored by Des Moines Neighbors, will be held Nov. 1 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at DMACC Urban Campus, Betts Bldg., Room 108. The cost is $30.
• Resident Leadership and Facilitation, Course Registration #15301
  Students will learn how to plan, lead and effectively participate in meetings that get results and actions that strengthen neighborhoods. The importance of relationship building will be highlighted. This class, sponsored by Making Connections, will be held Oct. 24 and 25 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the United Way Human Service Campus, 1111 9th St., Des Moines. There is no charge for the class, and it’s open only to residents of Making Connections neighborhoods.

For more information contact:
Kimberly Hansen (515) 771-4557
Suzanne Holmes (515) 309-4795
Julie Bundy (515) 964-6402

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