NPU University
Established in 2019, NPU University is a community engagement initiative that advances the Department of City Planning’s mission to facilitate thriving neighborhoods and public engagement in all our work. NPU-U aims to increase and strengthen the voices and skills of Atlantans by educating, empowering and equipping them to serve as effective community representatives and leaders. NPU-U will provide the training residents need in order to make valuable contributions in civic decision-making settings and produce more equitable strategies for neighborhoods.
Through hands-on training and instruction from subject matter experts, thought leaders, and City of Atlanta staff, NPU-U helps explore best practices and solutions to challenges neighborhoods may face. Courses emphasize community-building principles and strategies, project planning, access to resources, organizational leadership skills.
University participants may be NPU leaders, neighborhood association or civic group officers, resident volunteers, community-based organization staff, business owners, local government staff, or any other aspiring community leaders, partners or stakeholders. Whether students have never attended a community meeting or have never missed one, what students have in common is that they care about their neighborhoods and want to actively participate in building and shaping their communities, and empowering others to do the same.