South Spokane residents who want to hone leadership skills can take a six-week course through the Institute for Neighborhood Leadership. A sign-up and informational meeting is scheduled for Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the East Central Community Center, 500 S. Stone. The classes are free.

Since it was founded two years ago, the institute has trained 108 neighborhood activists in Spokane, including Charlie Greenwood of Peaceful Valley.

“I thought it was great,” Greenwood said. “I’d recommend it to anyone.”

Greenwood is a member of the community development steering committee in Peaceful Valley, the Peaceful Valley Neighborhood Association, and Citizens for Clean Air. Some of the projects he’s worked on include getting natural gas lines extended to homes in his neighborhood that previously weren’t served, and the paving of Elm Street in Peaceful Valley.

Institute classes helped him develop his communication skills, he said.

Karen Boone, director of the institute, said classes will be held for six consecutive Wednesdays at the East Central Community Center from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Students will learn communication skills, parliamentary procedure, goal-setting, how to connect with other people and resources in the community, public speaking, negotiating, conflict resolution, and building neighborhood coalitions.

Several educators and professionals in Spokane will serve as teachers for the institute classes, she said.

For more information, contact the Northeast Community Center, where Boone has her office. The phone number is 487-1603.

, DataTimes