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The Community Leadership program has openings in the following Spring 2026 courses. Taught by subject matter experts, the Community Leadership Skills Courses emphasize practical skills, deep dives into crucial topics, and take only 5 weeks to complete! Undergraduate and graduate students are welcome to sign up.

CLDR 410-01, Events & Programming as Inclusive Process with Ashley Bush (Baltimore City Parks & Recreation) and Katie Long (Friends of Patterson Park).

When/Where: Wednesday nights, 4:30 - 7:00pm, 1/28/26 - 2/25/26 at the Lion Brothers Building classroom in Southwest Baltimore City (on the UMBC shuttle route).

Course Description: This course will guide students through the steps of program development and implementation that reflects community culture and priorities. "Events and Programming as Inclusive Process" seeks to help students develop programming which connects multiple communities through shared activities and spaces, and addresses the importance of creating programs and events which respond to community needs, feedback, and assets. The course will equip students with an understanding of the concept of inclusive programming and the value of community engagement to create sustainable community programs and events.

CLDR 410-02, Asset Based Community Development with Jess Wyatt (UMBC Alumni Relations and Asset-Based Community Development Institute)

When/Where: Wednesday nights, 4:30 - 7:00pm, 3/4/26 - 4/8/26 at the Lion Brothers Building classroom in Southwest Baltimore City (on the UMBC shuttle route).

Course Description: This course will address the fundamentals of Asset Based Community Development (ABCD), how to practically implement ABCD in students' daily professional practice while developing a community of practice using ABCD, as well as, becoming ABCD practitioners in the field. Working through an ABCD process, participants can move towards whole-community mobilization through mapping the capacities assets of individuals, associations, and institutions while building relationships.

CLDR 410-03, Budgeting for Community Impact with Candace Chance (Baltimore Nonprofit Strategist and Director of the Vision, Performance & Impact Firm)

When/Where: Wednesday nights, 4:30 - 7:00pm, 4/15/26 - 513/26 at the Lion Brothers Building classroom in Southwest Baltimore City (on the UMBC shuttle route).

Course Description: Have you heard the saying, Put your money where your mouth is? If not, it is a saying that means to follow through on something you said. Organizations say a lot through their marketing, their grant proposals, and ultimately through their vision, mission, and values. But there's one major way to see if they're really walking the walk or just talking: their BUDGET! An organization's budget is their accountability to the things that they say. This course will teach students how to align their values and their intended impact with their budgets so that they can stand in integrity.

If you have any questions, you can reach out to Sally Scott (sjscott@umbc.edu) and Devin Wilkins (devinw2@umbc.edu).