On Our Radar: Applications open for leadership academy, plus a recap of Warnock's visit

Step-Up Savannah's Neighborhood Leadership Academy has become known for producing alums who move on to impactful community roles such as advisory boards or city councils. This week's On Our Radar piece will detail the application process for this year's class and share who is leading it.

Beyond the leadership academy, any Savannah resident who wonders how their tax dollars are spent has a chance to participate in the process that decides it. The City of Savannah has created an opportunity for residents to engage early-on in the creation of its 2025 budget. This week's installment will tell you how.

If you have neighborhood updates, organization events or news tips you think could be of service to Savannahians, send them to elasseter@savannahnow.com . Also reach out if there are stories here you would like to know more about. Deadline for the On Our Radar series will be the end of day each Friday.

Neighborhood Leadership applications open

When Step-Up Savannah 's NLA kicks off this year, the man leading it is one of those alums who is now in a key community leadership role.

This year's three-month long academy will be led by Moncello Stewart, the Greater Savannah Black Chamber of Commerce president and a prominent political consultant. He most recently ran Mayor Van Johnson's reelection campaign.

“As president of the Greater Savannah Black Chamber of Commerce, my role is to make sure that we are consistent with our mission and vision to create economic opportunities for African American businesses, making sure that African Americans are at the forefront of decision making and [ensuring] that we aren’t being left behind when it comes to planning for our community," said Stewart in a Step-Up Savannah press release. "We do that by creating programming and building relationships.”

Applications for the leadership academy are open until Monday July 29, and the classes are set to start on Sept. 16. The curriculum entails leadership training that focuses on advocacy, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, the press release said.

This year the participants will tackle a group project that focuses on solutions to a particular community issue such as opportunity for youth, environmental and transit justice, health systems, and affordable housing.

“One of our goals at Step Up Savannah is to collaborate and build community relationships that help us better serve and make long-term investments in our leadership legacy," said Step-Up Savannah's Community Coordinator Ruthie Williams. "As we continue with the traditions of the Neighborhood Leadership Academy, we are excited to provide an unparalleled opportunity for participants to engage in meaningful conversation and reflection, as well as elevate their sense of civic responsibility as they consider their own experiences, leadership styles, and collective response to create a community where everyone belongs at the table.”

Those interested in applying for the program can do so through Step-Up Savannah's website .

Participate in Savannah's budget planning process

The City of Savannah holds public hearings each year for its future budget. Those hearings typically come after the proposed budget has been released, giving residents a chance to comment on it before its adopted by City Council.

This year the city is giving residents an opportunity to be involved earlier in the process. The city has released a survey for residents to rank their priorities. Those who take the survey are presented with the city's eight service areas: Human Services , Stormwater Management , Cultural Arts , Planning & Development , Housing , Recreation , Fire , and Police services .

More: Savannah passes $560 million budget for 2024 behind increases in tax revenue

Residents can select a top three for submission, and the survey contains descriptions of each service area. The survey closes on Aug. 31.

Results will be made public in September, and there are also plans for results to be presented to city leadership to help inform budget decisions, according to a City of Savannah Press release.

ICYMI: Savannah receives visit from high-profile political leaders

Monday in Savannah was a case of who's in town.

Sen. Raphael Warnock returned home for a day where he toured Gulfstream, Savannah Technical College's Aviation Campus , then finished the evening with a live taping of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Politically Georgia podcast.

Here is a clip courtesy of the AJC of Warnock riffing on another Savannah son, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

Warnock's visit to Savannah Tech ended in a press briefing that marked his first public appearance after President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race. Warnock, as he did the day before, endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday.

Also in Savannah Monday was Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. The state's top election official observed a Chatham County Board of Elections health check and briefed leaders at the Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce on measures taken to increase voter confidence.

More: Georgia Secretary of State gives Chatham County elections clean bill of health

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: On Our Radar: Applications open for leadership academy, plus a recap of Warnock's visit