Westside leadership Institute:
Westside Leadership Institute: The Westside Leadership Institute (WLI) supports the development of west side resident leaders as a catalyst for positive change in their communities. WLI offers leadership workshops taught by University faculty and community leaders to west Salt Lake residents while connecting them to local decision-making bodies, funding sources, and further support. Our goal is to equip citizens to take civic action in their communities, while providing learning opportunities for University faculty and students.
WLI Mission: The WLI is a community/University partnership that supports west Salt Lake residents' efforts to take civic action for positive change in their communities. The WLI works to produce reciprocal benefits for University of Utah students, faculty, and community partners.
WLI History: Three community partners, University Neighborhood Partners, NeighborWorks Salt Lake (NWSL) (formerly known as SL Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS), and SL Weed and Seed, created and opened the WLI in spring of 2004. They brought together six faculty members from the University of Utah with west side community leaders to co-teach a grassroots, community leadership course based on the Pew Foundation's LeadershipPlenty program. Since then, WLI has offered three sessions in English and three in Spanish. In 2006 the University of Utah’s Center for Public Policy and Administration (CPPA) (part of the Institute for Public and International Affairs—IPIA), became the lead university partner.
Photo by Roberto Maturana:
WLI Classes: Classes are co-taught by University of Utah faculty and staff from NeighborWorks Salt Lake. The class meets every fall for 12 weeks, generally beginning in September and ending in December. Classes are held on Tuesday nights from 6:00-9:00 pm., WLI classes are held at NeighborWorks Salt Lake or Rose Park Elementary School, and dinner is provided prior to each WLI session. WLI participants are enrolled as University of Utah non-credit students during the course. A graduation session is held on the University of Utah campus at the end of the WLI classes, and graduates are awarded a certificate from the University of Utah and the WLI.
Other University Of Utah faculty who have contributed to the teaching and curriculum of the WLI include:
- Dr. Rosemarie Hunter, University Neighborhood Partners
- Dr. Susie Porter, Dept. of History/Gender Studies Program
- Moises Prospero, Social Work;
- Claudio Holznerr, Political Science
- Luke Garrott, Political Science
- Bruce Parsons, Social Work;
- Dave Patton, Center for Public Policy and Administration;
- Dennis Alexander, Communication
- Ken Jameson, Economics
- David Quijada, Education, Culture and Society
- Sandra Parkes, Associate Dean for Academic Outreach and Continuing Education
Check out a story about a Former WLI Graduate, Kyle LaMalfa:
"I had a great experience participating in the Westside leadership Institute! I learned to identify strengths and weaknesses, manage conflict, embrace diversity and much more. Our group became fast friends, had a lot of fun, ate great food, and supported one another in our projects. We also came to know a sincere and caring group of University of Utah instructors and community facilitators. I now feel empowered and ready to make positive changes in my community because of the WLI. The WLI gave me an opportunity to better myself, my family and my community!"
- Gina Zivkovic, (WLI Graduate, UNP Board of Advisors member, Local Resident, Business owner and student)