City of Tallahassee Neighborhood Leadership Academy

Ever want look through the lens of police laser equipment at speeding vehicles or help put out a fire? Interested in taking a tour of the Public Safety Complex or climbing aboard a StarMetro electric bus? Ever wonder how traffic lights are timed to maximize traffic flow or what happens to your recycled waste?
City residents and neighborhood leaders interested in receiving a backstage pass to learn about the work that goes into operating the City of Tallahassee are invited to take part in the 13th Annual Neighborhood Leadership Academy. Open to all residents living within the Tallahassee city limits, the Neighborhood Leadership Academy is an instructional and interactive forum designed to empower citizens with specialized knowledge about how their local government operates. These hands-on experiences allow participants to learn the best ways to access City programs and services. It also serves as a venue to provide feedback on how services might be enhanced.
“I gained so much valuable knowledge about the City and how to access City services. The classes were also fun and entertaining,” said Susan Grantham, former Neighborhood Leadership Academy participant. “I learned useful information that‘s not only been beneficial for me and my neighborhood, I’ve also had friends call me with questions. And, while I may need to flip through my Leadership binder to help jog my memory, I’ve been able to share what I learned to help them as well.”
The Academy is presented as a nine week course, with participants meeting every Tuesday. The first class will take place on Tuesday, September 2, from 6-9 p.m.
At the September 2 kickoff, City officials will welcome the 2014 participants and lead them in an interactive exercise designed to provide an overview of the City’s organizational structure. During the remaining eight weeks, staff from virtually every City department will meet with class participants to share information and provide experiences on the wide variety of services, programs and initiatives offered by the City.
City residents interested in participating in the 13th Annual Neighborhood Leadership Academy can submit a request online at http://www.talgov.com/parks/parks-neighborhood-nla.aspx. Registration will be limited to 25 participants. For more information about the Neighborhood Leadership Academy, please call Andrea Griffin at the City’s Neighborhood Services office at 891-3846 or email andrea.griffin@talgov.com.