Savannah launches CALI program for community advancement training
In a city, leadership comes from more than just elected officials, and the city of Savannah recently launched an effort to increase career, youth and nonprofit leadership skills for its residents.
In early April, the city began the Community Advancement Leadership Institute, an initiative that will bring more than 60 free or affordable skills-development classes to residents. CALI sessions will focus on four areas: community and neighborhood leadership development; nonprofit and organizational leadership development; career and personal leadership development; and youth leadership development.
Current educational classes open for registration include the foundations of government, a workshop on grant writing and another on interview strategies. Residents can register online through the city of Savannah with sessions available until Aug. 26 before the second round of sessions begin in September.
“Even though over the years we have had our hands in all those pots, through this initiative we’ve been able to put it all together with a more concentrated effort,” said Kerri Reid, Savannah’s director of Human Services.
The institute is aimed at helping Savannahians drive change in their personal lives and within the communities they live in, said Anntoinette Williams, the city’s assistant director for Human Services, who is leading the initiative.
Individual career development opportunities include classes for various industry certifications, from food to manufacturing. Specific certifications include ones for a child development associate, a culinary kitchen cook and a fast-track manufacturing certification.
There is also a certified nursing assistant certification track.
“That’s one of the reasons we talk about the empowerment piece, because if you can imagine someone that has access to those certifications it can actually change an entire family’s trajectory, change their lives,” Williams said.
Some specific nonprofit and entrepreneurship-related training will include workshops on budgeting, leading fundraisers and building partnerships with donors, according to the initiative’s website.
Youth development opportunities will focus engaging youth through the Savannah Youth Ambassadors program, including a “summer intensive” with a four-week curriculum. Over the span of 12 months, the group will be able to have experiences such as attending Savannah-Chatham Day at the state Capitol and meeting with subject matter experts around Savannah, Reid said.
“They really get a chance to learn what it’s like to be a young and emerging leader.”
The program will also a feature a few major events, dubbed “Super Saturdays.” These events will span from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and offer multiple classes within one of the four focus areas. The final Super Saturday will be a “neighborhood convention” convening neighborhood association participants and Savannah residents on Dec. 13.
Associations will complete a capstone project focused on their neighborhood, which will then be celebrated at the convention. Associations with participation at five core trainings this year will be eligible for a $1,000 grant from the city, Williams said.
“It’s a celebration of CALI; it’s a celebration of neighborhood associations,” Williams said.
Evan Lasseter is the city of Savannah and Chatham County government reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at [email protected].
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