Want to Make a Bigger Difference in Your Neighborhood? Missouri's Neighborhood Leadership Academy Can Help. Register Now

 

Every healthy neighborhood has people who quietly make things happen.

They organize a block party. They welcome new neighbors. They serve on neighborhood associations. They advocate for safer streets, cleaner parks, and stronger communities. They bring people together when others are drifting apart.

The good news is that leaders like these are not born. They are developed.

That is exactly why Missouri's Neighborhood Leadership Academy (NLA) exists. And registration and scholarship links are now open online.

For many years, the Neighborhood Leadership Academy has equipped residents from across Missouri with practical skills to strengthen the places they call home. Rather than focusing only on theory, the program helps participants become more effective community builders by combining leadership development with practical strategies that can be applied immediately in their own neighborhoods.

Participants explore topics such as community building, neighborhood engagement, project planning, organizational leadership, volunteer management, and personal leadership. Just as importantly, they learn alongside fellow residents from communities across Missouri who share a common desire to make their neighborhoods better places to live.

One of the greatest strengths of the academy is the relationships that develop during the program. Participants gain ideas from one another, discover successful projects happening in other communities, and build a statewide network of people who believe strong neighborhoods are worth investing in.

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates receive a Certificate in Neighborhood Leadership from the Chancellor of the University of Missouri–St. Louis. More importantly, they leave with greater confidence, new friendships, practical tools, and a clearer vision for serving their communities.

The 2026 Neighborhood Leadership Academy offers three participation options to make the program accessible to residents across the state. Participants may attend a virtual Wednesday evening cohort, a virtual daytime cohort held on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, or, for St. Louis area residents, an in-person Tuesday evening cohort.

Recognizing that cost can sometimes be a barrier, full and partial scholarships are available through the generous support of the Missouri Foundation for Health. Anyone interested in applying for financial assistance should pay close attention to the scholarship deadline, which arrives well before the final registration deadline.

If you have ever thought, "Someone ought to do something," perhaps this is your opportunity to become that someone.

Healthy neighborhoods rarely happen by accident. They are built by ordinary residents who are willing to learn, lead, and invest in the people around them. 

Missouri's Neighborhood Leadership Academy is one of the best opportunities in our state to develop those skills. Whether you are already leading in your community or simply wondering how you can become more involved, this program can provide the knowledge, encouragement, and network to help you take the next step.

Our neighborhoods need more people who are willing to build bridges, create connections, and inspire others. Perhaps this is the year you become one of them.

BACKGROUND

The Neighborhood Leadership Academy (NLA) is a statewide program that draws adult students from across the state. The program has a 40 year history! Locally, there have been Republic, Springfield and Ash Grove area residents in NLA or a similar class in 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and now 2026.

Class content is provided online. We will also have an opportunity for coffee or lunch once a week for additional networking and idea development.

The Neighborhood Leadership Academy (NLA) provides in-depth and multifaceted leadership training emphasizing community-building principles and strategies, project planning, organizational leadership and management practices, and personal leadership skills.

 

University of Missouri Extension and University of Missouri St Louis jointly offer the program. Nearly 15 instructors representing both institutions lead the online learning statewide and live sessions.

 

Participants in NLA are actively involved in their regions, towns, and neighborhoods and represent communities throughout Missouri. Academy participants may be neighborhood association members, community leaders, resident volunteers, community-based organization staff, business owners, local government staff, and municipal elected officials.

 

More than 400 neighborhood and organization leaders have participated in NLA, learning the skills and building the networks necessary to create whole communities. 

 

LOCAL BONUS: College Credit at Drury

Graduates of NLA can receive three credit hours from Drury University in Springfield to be used toward a leadership certificate at Drury if you want to further your education. 

 

Graduates also can earn grant monies. Here is an article about the graduates who had their projects funded last year: Blog Post.

 

ARTICLES AND VIDEOS ON NLA GRADS

 

One Republic City Council member credits neighboring activities and Neighborhood Leadership Academy for his move toward serving on council: Blog Post.

Graduates do come up with some great projects, like this one in Republic, Mo.

This student from Republic had media coverage on his project to complete a Sports Equipment Library.

 

Or this one in St. Louis that dealt with a street improvement in a neighborhood. 

 

WRITTEN BY

David L. Burton

For more information, visit the Engaged Neighbor website. Take our pledge and become part of a movement! Or subscribe to our newsletter. Access some of the research documents written by David Burton, the author of this blog. Or better yet, purchase one of his books off Amazon. Contact David L. Burton via email at dburton541@yahoo.