2022 Neighborhood Leadership Academy Accepting Applications

Program Provides Citizens a Behind-the-Scenes Look at City Services

August 11, 2022

The City of Tallahassee is offering the 2022 Neighborhood Leadership Academy (NLA) to equip citizens with the knowledge, resources and networking capabilities to help them be effective neighborhood leaders and informed residents. This popular program will again be held this fall.

Organized by the City's Neighborhood Affairs division, the 2022 academy will begin Tuesday, September 20, and will continue every Tuesday evening through Nov. 29. Sessions will be held both virtually and in-person at various locations. Activities will include tours of City facilities, active demonstrations, hands-on sessions and multi-media presentations.

"The City of Tallahassee's commitment to be the national leader in the delivery of public service sets us apart from other communities. As the largest single provider of municipal services in our community, our dedicated workforce operates an airport-based solar farm, electric bus fleet, best-in-class utility system and world-class parks. The Neighborhood Leadership Academy takes citizens behind the scenes to engage with our highly skilled employees and learn more about the complex inner workings of the many services the City proudly provides to our community each day," City Manager Reese Goad said.

Registration is open now and citizens interested in participating can submit an application online at Talgov.com/NLA. Registration is limited and will close by Sept. 2. Preference will be given to applicants who serve on their homeowners/neighborhood association boards and/or who are very active in their neighborhoods

The academy is an instructional and interactive forum designed to empower citizens with specialized knowledge about how their local government operates. Residents will have the opportunity to engage with community leaders to increase their understanding of City programs and processes, while promoting governmental transparency and civic engagement.

The first session of the academy introduces participants to the City's organizational structure, with the following sessions covering topics such as economic development, public safety and community engagement.

At the conclusion of the program, graduates receive a certificate of completion and are officially recognized before the Tallahassee City Commission. They can then utilize what they learned from the academy to influence transformative change in their communities.

For more information about the Neighborhood Leadership Academy, please visit Talgov.com/NLA or contact the City's Division of Neighborhood Affairs at 850-891-8795.