Michigan Civic Engagement Academy

5-Months of Leadership Training, Coaching and Mentoring

If you’re ready to take the plunge from wanting community change to making it happen, then CPL’s Michigan Civic Engagement Academy is for you!

Who Should Apply:

• Do you care about your community and want to know how to be most effective in making the changes you want to see a reality?
• Do you have ideas and opinions you want to implement to make your neighborhood or city better?
• Have you gotten a taste of the power of community organizing and political action through volunteering on a campaign, rallying, or protesting and want to do more?
• Do you want the training and experience that will help you do this?

Goals of the Program

Calling all emerging leaders! Do you care about your community and want to know how to be most effective in making the changes you want to see a reality?  Do you have ideas and opinions you want to implement to make your neighborhood or city better?  Have you gotten a taste of the power of community organizing and political action through volunteering on a campaign, rallying, or protesting and want to do more?  If you are ready to take the plunge from wanting community change to making it happen, this is the program for you!

CPL is teaming up with MOSES (Metropolitan Organizing Strategy Enabling Strength) to put together a comprehensive Civic Engagement Academy for religious and non-religious progressive activists. We are excited for this partnership and to continue building alliances throughout the community as we work for social justice.   

Through 50 hours of training over 5 months, as well as Peer Coaching, Networking, and Community Engagement Projects, you can build a foundation of essential organizing and leadership skills that will help you shape your community and enhance your leadership by:

• Developing a broader understanding of the political landscape in Michigan, including who holds power in your community, where your power comes from, and how to influence those with power.
• Learning more about the issues and policies that most impact your communities, as well as how these intersect with other communities.
• Deepening your awareness and improving your ability to collaborate across issues and communities.
• Strengthening core leadership skills to engage more fully in organizing, advocacy, issue and electoral campaigns. 
• Identifying long-term leadership goals and developing a clear plan to increase your political involvement.
• Feeling empowered and equipped to take on a greater leadership role in your community.

Weekend Workshop Training Topics include:

• Progressive Values, Inclusion in Leadership, Storytelling
• Personal Strategic Planning and Peer Coaching
• Michigan’s Political Landscape and Government 101
• Methods of Change, Organizing for Power, and Legislative Processes
• Messaging and Narratives
• Collaborative Leadership, Sustainability, and Group Coaching

The Civic Engagement Academy will be offered in Detroit for the first five months of 2012. The dates for this training are Jan. 28th-29th, Feb. 18th-19th, March 24th-25th, April 28th-29th, and June 2nd-3rd. Participation in all weekend workshops is essential. Trainings are typically from 9am-5 pm on Saturdays and 1 pm-5:30 pm on Sundays.

Individuals from across the state are encouraged to apply. The cost of the full 5 month training, including lunch and materials, is just $200, though partial scholarships are available based on need. To apply for a scholarship, fill out the CEA application (which can be found on this site) and indicate in that application that you need a scholarship. The deadline to apply for the January-May 2012 CEA is January. 8, 2012.  If you have any questions, please email Dessa:  Dcosma@progressiveleaders.org.