Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services

Have you always wanted to know how to run an effective meeting….how to have positive momentum in your neighborhood…influence what takes place around you…become a leader and standard setter in your community? If so, the KNHS Community Builders curriculum is just what you are looking for.

In January of 2001, Kalamazoo Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. (KNHS) proudly adopted a community-based curriculum called Community Builders®. It is a leadership program designed to empower community residents to:

§ address block oriented issues

§ interact positively with other neighbors

§ effectively utilize community resources

§ and increase community participation and pride.

Through the sixteen week Community Builders® training, residents are encouraged to gain an understanding of who they are in relationship to their respective communities.

Leadership skills covered by the course include:

§ setting goals and priorities

§ understanding group dynamics

§ grant writing

§ development, organizing and implementing a community project

§ conflict resolution

§ marketing a project

§ making wise decisions

§ facilitating an effective meetings

§ locating and utilizing community resources

§ working with City Government

§ understanding and valuing diversity

This class usually consists of seven-fourteen participants from Kalamazoo County, although preference is given to Community Development Block Grant ( CDBG ) residents. We meet weekly from 6-8:30 pm and occasionally on the weekends for retreats. Individually, each participant has contributed to the improvement of their neighborhood. As a class, projects they have completed include:

§ participating in National Youth Service Day

§ Northside, Edison and Eastside neighborhood clean ups

§ planting flowers at the Ashley Joyce Memorial

§ a project referred to as House Bounce which involves class participants to revitalize various homes and blocks throughout different CDBG neighborhoods as a means to enhance curb appeal

§ distributing community resource pamphlets

Future Community Builders® projects will include:

§ participating in a project involving Axtell Creek

§ promotional video

At the conclusion of the course, a graduation ceremony is held to recognize the dedication of the participant to this course and to the Kalamazoo Community. We look forward to their further accomplishments!

Established in 2004 is the Community Builders® Alumni Chapter. These Community Builder graduates have a desire to continue their commitment to the curriculum and Kalamazoo community. Within the first couple months of their existence, the chapter has already participated in the annual holiday food drive and are planning future projects.

Community Builders® is open to anyone in Kalamazoo who wishes to maximize his or her leadership potential. For class costs and more information, or to receive an application, contact Sharilyn Parsons @ 385-2916.

Community Builders® (back) Caressa Hamby, Corrina Paulin, Bill Squiers, & Christopher Hindbaugh, (front) Demarra Gardner, LeVada Atkinson, and Curtis Gardner, take a moment to regroup during their involvement in the National Youth Service Project in the Edison Neighborhood.