Empowering Local Leaders to Build a Healthier Berrien County
Be Healthy Berrien and Corewell Health created the Community Leadership Academy to support resident led health solutions across Berrien County. Supported by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund through a grant to United Way of Southwest Michigan, the Academy strengthens community-driven policy and systems change.
About the Community Leadership Academy
What the Academy Is
A 12 week, project-based leadership development program designed to equip residents—especially those from historically excluded neighborhoods to lead initiatives that address local priorities like food access, physical activity, and community safety.
Why It Matters
Community health assessments highlight a need for more opportunities to connect, organize, and lead. The Academy offers knowledge, structure, and support for residents to turn ideas into meaningful action that strengthens neighborhoods and improves well-being.
2026 Niles Cohort
VISION: connected, inclusive community Where everyone has the opportunity to belong, build meaningful relationships, and thrive in both physical and mental well-being.
OBJECTIVE: Start a fitness club in the Niles community, encouraging residents to connect outdoors, to improve health and social cohesion.
2025 Benton Harbor Cohort
The 2025 Academy cohort is putting their skills to work—turning learning into real community impact. Check out the video below to see how their Community Improvement Project: 2026 Youth Gun Violence Summit is taking shape, and how residents are stepping forward to lead change where it matters most.
Inaugural Cohort Launch — Fall 2025
The first cohort launched on September 17, 2025, at the Corewell Health Center for Wellness in Benton Harbor. Twelve committed residents began a journey of learning, collaboration, and hands on leadership.
Program Learning Journey
Participants explored the building blocks of community health, including:
- Environmental and social influences
- Walkability and neighborhood design
- Food systems and nutrition access
- Community Improvement Project (CIP) planning
- Strategies for engaging decision makers
From Learning to Leadership: Community Improvement Project
Each cohort completes a Community Improvement Project (CIP), participants identified youth gun violence as a top priority in Benton Harbor. Their CIP has since grown into a resident led action plan guiding the Youth Gun Violence Prevention Summit on June 26, 2026—a powerful example of how community leadership drives meaningful change.
The inaugural cohort graduated in December 2025, celebrating months of learning, relationship building, and action planning. Graduates continue to advance this work through:
- Collaborating with community partners and fellow residents
- Taking on leadership roles in shaping the Youth Summit
- Advancing their Community Improvement Project Action Plan
Voices from the Academy
“This experience gave me the tools and skills to make a real difference. We’re not just talking about change; we’re creating it together,” said Cori Burton, Community Leadership Academy participant.
“The Academy is more than a program; it’s an investment in people. These graduates are helping shape the future of Benton Harbor,” said Dr. LaToya Mason, steering committee member and Dean of Health Sciences at Lake Michigan College.
The Community Leadership Academy is an investment in people—and the power of residents to create real change. Together, we are building a stronger, more connected Berrien County.
