Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Neighborhoods topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Neighborhood leadership academy asks for modest budget increase to support cohorts and project grants
Summary
Spokane Neighborhood Leadership Academy staff described cohorts, recruitment and neighborhood improvement projects and requested about an 8% budget increase (previous two‑year budget $22,500) to cover rising food and personnel costs and to fund neighborhood project incentives.
Cindy Donahue, presenting the Spokane Neighborhood Leadership Academy (SNLA) partnership, told the committee the program began after a 2021 assessment of neighborhood-council diversity and effectiveness and launched its first cohort in 2022. The program mixes leadership development with practical training on city processes and offers mentorship and a neighborhood improvement project for participants.
Donahue said SNLA has grown steadily: "It kicked off in 2022, with its 1st cohort of 9 people," and the program now hosts in‑person classes, mentorship and a neighborhood improvement project that helps participants take their ideas to implementation. She said organizers have refined recruitment and marketing, work closely with the Office of Neighborhood Services (ONS) and measure outcomes with before-and-after surveys.
On program funding, Donahue said the SNLA budget was $22,500 in the prior two years, but rising costs (food, instructor fees, personnel coordination) mean staff are requesting an 8% increase over the next two years to continue covering curriculum, instructor fees, supplies and incentives. She described a shift in incentives toward funding neighborhood improvement projects to give participants practical, fundable outcomes.
Council members questioned youth engagement and whether SNLA followed up with alumni. Donahue said staff maintain an email list of alumni and invite them back annually; ONS staff reported ongoing conversations to pilot integration with two high schools for 2027. Donahue and partners said they will return with additional evaluation data if council requests it.
Next steps: staff will provide sample program follow‑up data when available and coordinate with ONS on pilot high‑school outreach and potential evaluation metrics.
