JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missourians interested in strengthening their neighborhoods and communities have until Aug. 21 to register for the 2026 Neighborhood Leadership Academy, a 10-week leadership development program offered through a partnership of University of Missouri Extension and University of Missouri-St. Louis.
The program runs Sept. 8 through Nov. 12 and is offered online, making it available to participants throughout Missouri, said MU Extension engagement specialist Elizabeth Anderson. Online participants may choose between a Wednesday evening cohort or a daytime cohort that meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There is also an in-person option for St. Louis residents that meets Tuesday evenings.
Founded in 2002, the Neighborhood Leadership Academy helps residents build skills in community engagement, project planning, organizational leadership, fundraising and personal leadership development, Anderson said. Participants come from a wide range of backgrounds, including neighborhood associations, nonprofits, local government, schools and small businesses. More than 700 community leaders have completed the program.
A central feature of the academy is the community improvement project that each participant develops and carries out in their own neighborhood or community, said Claire Rippel, education director for MU Extension Community Development. Projects have included neighborhood associations, community gardens, parks, youth programs and other local initiatives designed to address community needs and build stronger connections among residents.
Past projects have led to measurable community improvement, Rippel said. In St. Louis, academy graduate Lisa Potts worked with residents, nonprofits and city officials to launch a traffic-calming initiative that improved safety along a neighborhood corridor while increasing community involvement.
“Strong communities depend on people who are willing to step forward, bring neighbors together and turn ideas into action,” Rippel said. “The academy gives participants tools, connections and support to help them tackle local challenges and improve quality of life in their communities.”
The program fee is $405.
For more information or to register, visit https://cwc.umsl.edu/nla.
MU Extension is the link between the University of Missouri’s proven research, knowledge and resources and more than 6 million Missourians. With state and local partners, we deliver real-world solutions to address our state’s grand challenges around agriculture, economic opportunity, educational access and health and well-being. Faculty and staff in 114 counties and the city of St. Louis work to empower people, strengthen communities and develop leaders. True to our land-grant mission, we serve Missouri and deliver Mizzou as we improve lives and opportunities.