A GW-administered degree program that teaches District citizens to lead positive change in their communities received a $500,000 grant this year to expand its programming.
Former D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams approved the funds for the decade-old program, D.C. Neighborhood College, which is administered through GW's Center for Excellence and Public Leadership, a training and research center within the College of Professional Studies.
The center arranges for professors to teach participants on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings for a total of 15 hours per week, a standard full-time course load. The program is free for those accepted.
Natalie K. Houghtby-Haddon, associate director of the Center for Excellence and Public Leadership, said this year's mayoral funding for the program releases the program from relying on private donors.
"The grant gives us the opportunity to expand the program a bit," she added.
GW not only gives the year-long program organizational assistance but also shares resources with participants, Houghtby-Haddon said. The program works to bring opportunities for leadership to people within the surrounding community. While the University gives so much to the program, Houghtby-Haddon said, it is better to share costs and responsibilities with the D.C. government.
"I don't think it's appropriate for the University to fund it fully," Houghtby-Haddon said. "I think it always needs to be a partnership with the government because then they get more effective citizen leaders to work in the partnership with the government itself."
The D.C. Neighborhood College's goals include developing cross-District networks of highly skilled community and civic leaders, according to its Web site. In the past year, there have been 53 graduates from the college, with professions including local civil service, banking, real estate, Latin affairs and communications.
Program spokesperson Karima Woods said the college is highly selective and tries to admit citizens from each of the eight District wards. She said the program's staff hopes GW will eventually fully fund the college.
Former D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams approved the funds for the decade-old program, D.C. Neighborhood College, which is administered through GW's Center for Excellence and Public Leadership, a training and research center within the College of Professional Studies.
The center arranges for professors to teach participants on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings for a total of 15 hours per week, a standard full-time course load. The program is free for those accepted.
Natalie K. Houghtby-Haddon, associate director of the Center for Excellence and Public Leadership, said this year's mayoral funding for the program releases the program from relying on private donors.
"The grant gives us the opportunity to expand the program a bit," she added.
GW not only gives the year-long program organizational assistance but also shares resources with participants, Houghtby-Haddon said. The program works to bring opportunities for leadership to people within the surrounding community. While the University gives so much to the program, Houghtby-Haddon said, it is better to share costs and responsibilities with the D.C. government.
"I don't think it's appropriate for the University to fund it fully," Houghtby-Haddon said. "I think it always needs to be a partnership with the government because then they get more effective citizen leaders to work in the partnership with the government itself."
The D.C. Neighborhood College's goals include developing cross-District networks of highly skilled community and civic leaders, according to its Web site. In the past year, there have been 53 graduates from the college, with professions including local civil service, banking, real estate, Latin affairs and communications.
Program spokesperson Karima Woods said the college is highly selective and tries to admit citizens from each of the eight District wards. She said the program's staff hopes GW will eventually fully fund the college.
