The Resident Leadership Academy (RLA), launched in partnership with the Fund for Public Housing, New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), and Murphy Institute/CUNY School of Professional Studies (CUNY SPS), is designed to provide training and build leadership skills for residents interested in taking a more active role in civic life within their development and/or community. RLA's objective is to:

• Develop current and emerging NYCHA resident leaders’ knowledge and skills to assume leadership positions as stewards of public housing

• Foster transferrable leadership skills that residents can use across their communities

• Provide a pathway to higher education

Through the RLA program, participating residents can earn up to 16 college credits through the Murphy Institute/CUNY SPS.

HAS THIS PROGRAM BEEN SUSPENDED DUE TO COVID-19? Due to COVID-19, in-person classes, meetings and appointments at CUNY have been suspended or moved online. For updates on CUNY's response to COVID-19, please visit www.cuny.edu/coronavirus. For additional resources to support students impacted by COVID-19, CUNY has provided "CUNY Continuity for Students." All in-person public meetings and events at NYCHA offices and developments are postponed or moved to web/telephone until further notice. For updates to NYCHA and other NYC agencies' response to COVID-19, please visit www1.nyc.gov/nyc-resources/city-agency-service-updates.page.

ABOUT THE MURPHY INSTITUTE/SPS CUNY: The Murphy Institute was established in 1984 as a partnership with New York City labor unions and the City University of New York (CUNY). Its purpose is three fold:

• to provide courses, certificates, and undergraduate and graduate degree programs in labor studies and urban studies;

• to expand higher educational opportunities for working adult students;

• to serve the labor and broader community.

Initially established as a campus-based program at Queens College, the program was re-established as a University-wide Institute in 2005. Today, more than 1,200 adult and traditional-aged students are enrolled in programs at our mid-town Manhattan site and at CUNY schools in all five boroughs of New York.