Mandel Cleveland Leadership Programs, It's All About Who

Mort Mandel was known worldwide for his philanthropic and business successes, which he attributed to identifying and developing high-quality leaders. The phrase “It’s all about who,” became the title of his business strategy book, referring to who you hire and how they lead as the key to extraordinary outcomes.

In the Mandel brothers’ hometown of Cleveland, OH, that phrase has taken on a deeper meaning, one rooted in access and opportunity. Who sees you? Who gives you a seat at the table? Who opens a door that you did not know existed?

That is the legacy of the Mandel Foundation’s Neighborhood Leadership Development Program (NLDP) and Community Development Corporation Leadership Development Program (CDCLP). The programs recently announced a transition from longtime director Michael White, who founded NLDP in 2007 and launched CDCLP five years ago. White is stepping back from day-to-day operations after two decades supporting Cleveland’s grassroots leaders.

Who should join NLDP?

NLDP is for people who are already doing the work of leadership, often without the title. From nonprofit professionals to block club captains and community organizers, NLDP is for engaged community members who are advocating for change and stepping in when systems fall short. For many, the journey starts before they fully realize the extent of their leadership. It’s often a friend or neighbor will see the impact of their efforts and say, “You should apply.” Through the support of the program and its network, these leaders go on to influence institutions, policies, and long-term structural change.

Joe Black—a grassroots leader from NLDP’s eighth cohort—was recently appointed as White’s successor. Before applying to NLDP, he recalls "looking at my phone with over 300 friends and contacts and realizing none of them had the resources or capacity to help convert my ideas into reality.” Black saw NLDP as an opportunity to deepen his impact and expand his network. At the time, he was leading community engagement efforts for the Sisters of Charity Foundation’s Central Promise Initiative, ensuring that Cleveland residents were at the table for decision-making that impacted their neighborhood. Today, he is a coach for NLDP and Senior Program Officer for Community and Economic Development at the Cleveland Foundation. And in a full-circle moment, soon he will lead the program that helped shape him.

Joe’s story is not unique.

Gabbie Jones, a graduate of Cohort 17, was working as a nursing assistant and taking part-time classes toward a nursing degree. As the cost of college became overwhelming, she began questioning whether nursing was the right path. When a neighbor suggested she apply for the role of Digital Navigator for Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority residents, she discovered a new passion for helping neighbors get online, set up their computers, and resolve tech issues.

With her supervisor’s encouragement, Jones applied to NLDP where she learned how to leverage her strengths to lead a team and advocate for resident-centered community change. She also sharpened her program development and fundraising skills, leading to the successful launch of an 8-week computer literacy program and computer labs. Like many NLDP graduates, Jones quickly advanced within her organization and sector. Following two promotions and a national digital inclusion fellowship, she serves as an Administrative Operations Specialist overseeing the digital inclusion program and IT department staff.

Ebonie Randle, also from Cohort 17, is the founder and executive director of Shalom & Tranquility Garden. Living in a neighborhood that has gone without a local grocery store for over a decade, her gardens serve as a vital source of fresh, nutritious produce. Randle joined NLDP to learn how she could advocate for food justice and empower the residents of Brooklyn Centre. She spent the cohort-year developing her idea for a summer beekeeping program to integrate pollinator science, journaling and stewardship. With the help of an NLDP graduate grant, The Bee Scouts Camp launched in May to reconnect her young neighbors with the joys of nature and cultivate future environmental stewards.

NLDP participants are often the ones already leading community gardens, after-school programs, neighborhood organizing efforts, and small grassroots nonprofits formed in direct response to problems close to home. The program doesn't create neighborhood leaders. It finds people who are already leading and provides access, skills, networks, and confidence that comes from executive level training.

A Second Program

In 2021, White expanded his leadership vision for Cleveland to include the field of community development, launching a similar program model, CDCLP, for professionals leading within community development corporations (CDCs). These neighborhood-level organizations are responsible for housing, economic development, and community revitalization, which is especially critical in neighborhoods shaped by historic disinvestment and economic disparity.

White recognized that CDCs with strong executive teams consistently outperformed peer organizations lacking the skills and capacity for strategic growth. In many cases, the stability and success of neighborhood development is tied to the efforts of the CDC which can influence public perception and investments from institutional partners, private investors, and philanthropic institutions.

After completing NLDP, Kena Chappell (Cohort 15) was promoted to a director role at North West Neighborhoods CDC, and she went on to complete CDCLP to continue developing her skills. "Being a graduate of both NLDP and CDCLP confirms that you don't have to look for confirmation from others, but look within yourself. It has taught me to dream bigger than my fears, work harder than my doubts and never forget how far I've come," a message she shared at the recent Cohort 5 graduation.

Like NLDP and CDCLP, the Cleveland leadership landscape is undergoing a generational shift. Work that began with Mort Mandel and his peers, beginning with the establishment of Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and Midtown Inc in the 1980s, is transitioning into a new era. The work is far from finished, but through NLDP and CDCLP, the next generation of leaders is already in the room.

Applications for the 2026-27 cohorts of NLDP and CDCLP are open through July 31. Joe Black will assume the director role on July 1, and both programs will transition to new office space at the Mandel Foundation headquarters this summer.