Neighborhood Leadership Program

Partner: The Amherst H. Wilder Foundation The Minnesota Historical Society and the Wilder Foundation worked with two new groups of existing and emerging community leaders in FYs14 and 15 to enhance their ability to act on important community issues. During each six-month program, 25 participants explored neighborhood involvement and developed leadership skills to take effective community action. Program participants were matched one-on-one with volunteer coaches from the community who served as learning partners, mentors, supporters and navigators, assisting participants in real-time application of skills developed during their time in the Neighborhood Leadership Program. Through visits to the Minnesota History Center, participants also learned about the diverse history of St. Paul and explored the resources available through MNHS. Through this exploration they learned how understanding the history of their community improves communication with community members, framing of community issues and setting goals and strategies for creating change.