Civic Engagement Programs

The civic engagement program is designed to increase both the descriptive and substantive representation of elected officials in education governance roles, like the school board, and to open pathways for participants to inform policy and practice in their communities. ​

The program centers around access to knowledge, access to networks, and empowerment - recognizing the value of lived experiences and identities of participants.

The program can be adapted to meet your community's needs. The six modules can be held over 3 (5 hour) or 6 (2.5-3 hour) sessions.

Cohorts can include 10-20 members, and should be representative of your community.

After the workshop series ends, we encourage quarterly convenings and ongoing supports to assist the participants implement their action plans.

The program's design was informed by extensive research completed as part of a doctoral dissertation.

This program is designed to be facilitated and led by a community organization and requires close collaboration with us to meet your organizational and community needs.

The first cohort of Civic Influencers (program run by Norwalk ACTS) resulted in:

• 100% affirmative responses to overall satisfaction and inclusion
• 91% growth in knowledge about government systems ​​
• 92-100% growth in knowledge about political systems and opportunities for engagement ​​
• 92-100% growth in knowledge about political systems and opportunities for engagement ​​
• Increases in intention to act across all civic engagement actions surveyed (from voting to watching or attending government meetings, to speaking with elected officials).
• 33% interest in running for the ​school board and 62% interest in running for some other ​other elected/ appointed office.