What is a Civic Leadership Institute (CLI)?

The CLI is a civic education program through which existing community leaders, elected officials and public policy-makers learn about the regional economy, the role of public policy in shaping community well-being, and the common interests that bind leaders together in a shared vision of equitable regional economic growth.

The CLI is usually presented as a series of 3 to 5 hour sessions held over a period of 6 to 10 weeks in different cities across the country. Sessions are highly interactive, respecting the experience and perspectives of the carefully selected participants who are in the room. Supporting this interactive design are learning materials to support facilitators and guest speakers drawn from local knowledge circuits.

The updated curriculum incorporates feedback from our Curriculum Advisory Group and numerous facilitators around the country.

Who convenes a CLI?

CLIs are sponsored by the lead organizations of labor-community coalitions that have the will and vision to integrate leadership development with other organizing activities. They provide organizing and research staff time to help facilitate the planning and design of the CLI by coalition leadership.

The selection process for CLI invitees is based on the strategic goals of the labor-community coalitions that sponsor them. Often, the goal is to expand dialog and build bridges across sectoral divides. To this end, nominations often target existing leaders and decision-making staff from faith-based organizations, labor unions, ethnic chambers of commerce, service-based non-profits, government agencies and commissions, and base-building community organizations.

Organization Type	Examples
Organized Labor	business, organizing or policy managers of union locals, regional labor councils
Community-Based Organizations	neighborhood groups, community development corporations, ethnic chambers of commerce, civic organizations, social service agencies with policy and advocacy interests
Faith-Based Organizations	Leaders of religious congregations or related social service agencies
Electeds & Government Officials	City council members, mayors' office staff, representatives of regional planning or economic development agencies, school board members

Why are these Institutes needed?

Today, many community leaders who could be allies aren’t getting together in the same room. We believe that winning political power nationally begins at home when progressives join together at the grassroots to craft creative responses to difficult problems in their own communities. The CLI creates a proactive and positive space of learning and leadership development that helps to bridge the gaps and real divides among local progressive leadership.

Where are these Institutes held?

The map below shows the locations of recent Civic Leadership Institutes. Click on a highlighted city for more information on local organizers of the program.