“If you fall in love with the idea of diversity you will ultimately destroy it. If you seek to communicate, understand, respect, empathize, and have compassion for the people you work with, serve, and influence, then a culture of inclusiveness
becomes the byproduct.”
— Gino Haynes, NLA Instructor
Neighborhood Leadership Academy
At Canton for All People’s Neighborhood Leadership Academy (NLA), we believe in the power of collective action. This program fosters collaboration and capacity-building among leaders dedicated to addressing community challenges and opportunities throughout Canton.
Program Format
Immersive, experiential learning retreats designed to build leadership skills and strengthen community impact.
Community Outcomes
Participants grow as leaders while building networks and practical tools to drive meaningful, lasting change.
About the Academy
NLA helps participants develop leadership capacity through shared learning, reflection, and hands-on experiences that deepen understanding of systems, relationships, and community dynamics.
Cohorts are encouraged to take what they learn and apply it directly to community needs through collaborative ideas and projects.
Topics Explored in the Retreats
- Transformational Leadership — understanding yourself and your impact.
- Emotional IQ & Self-Awareness — strengthening collaboration and teams.
- Systems Thinking — how systems shape outcomes and change.
- Local Governance — understanding community structures and engagement.
- Inclusive Community Building — recognizing bias and engaging diverse perspectives.
- …and additional applied leadership topics tailored to cohort learning.
Apply to Join a Cohort
Interested in growing as a leader and working with neighbors to strengthen our community? Apply to be part of an
upcoming Neighborhood Leadership Academy cohort.