ShePOWER
civic Leadership
program
The Civic Leadership Program is an interdisciplinary leadership development camp for emerging and high-potential female leaders in nonprofit organizations and local government. The program is designed to develop a pipeline of talented leaders to help nonprofits and government agencies thrive. Participants practice hands-on campaign skills, hear from inspiring local speakers, and discuss women issues and research on women in government.
ShePOWER Civic Leadership Camp mission is to narrow the achievement gaps (race, gender, socioeconomic level, or special needs) by combining leadership and civic service.
We partner with key organizations to teach skills needed for government or organizational leadership. The shift of women leaders has serious effect on our future, it creates change that extends outside our community. ShePOWER position girls voices to be heard in the earliest stages by pushing the idea that women as public leaders is natural, appealing and inevitable. When this happens, women and girls get better opportunities. ShePOWER ambition is to teach girls at an early age that they can and should become leaders. With more women leaders we change the voice at the table making laws for women, we educate girls on politics, we encourage early voters and reformers on women issues local, national and global. This new generation of leaders will bring change for women and girls, which bring change to the world.
WHY GIRLS
We know that girls are less likely to self-select into leadership. This pattern starts early and can extend throughout their lives. What can start as deciding not to raise her hand in class or run for student government can lead to a lifetime of sidestepping leadership, instead of stepping into it. We will change that pattern today by encouraging confidence, giving access to opportunities, and showing her girls and women that are already leaders.
CAMP
Our girls-only leadership camp is a one week intensive camp, crafted to teach civic leadership skills to girls through introducing them to inspiring female role models from both history and today.
We partner with nonprofits, governments, educators, and businesses to make public leadership more accessible.
SHEPOWER CIVIC LEADERSHIP CAMP
ShePOWER Civic Leadership Camp is a week-long
nonpartisan academy to educate girls about the political process and teach them to become effective leaders.
The program goal is to teach girls the whys and how of getting political and introduce our girls to scores of political women and leaders of all kinds, inevitably including at least a few with whom they can identify closely. Some who have run for office, working in politics, government or non-profit advocacy.
THE GOAL is for girls with no knowledge or little knowledge of politics to leave with a determination of pursuing a career in civic leadership.
DEFINING LEADERSHIP
Students will explore multiple and competing ways of defining leadership and discuss the implications of these definitions for their own leadership. What distinguishes a leader from a statesman? Is a community organizer a type of leader? Is leadership necessarily hierarchical? How does leadership work in a social movement? Who defines the goals of a leader? How are audiences attracted and retained? She will also gain insights into the landscape of organized interests in politics and reflect upon the relationship between power and leadership.
REPRESENTATION FOR CIVIC LEADERSHIP
Whenever leaders claim to represent specific groups, they confront challenges of identity and interests. Leaders may not look like the people on whose behalf they work; and these people, in turn, may disagree with one another about their own interests. Students will tackle the challenges of representation and develop strategies for effectively meeting them as well as examine the impact of human suffering, the concept of victimhood, and their relevance for civic leadership.
WHO SHOULD REGISTER
Civic Leadership Academy students are high potential leaders who desire to serve in nonprofit organizations and/or government agencies that serve residents and communities.
APPLY
The Civic Leadership Program conducts an annual application process. Successful students are intellectually curious, reflective, ambitious, innovative, collaborative, and committed to positive change in the world.
CAMPAIGNS
As the election race heats up, campaigns are looking for student volunteers. Learn how you can make an impact by identifying supporters, registering voters, and speaking out about the issues that matter to you.
CIVIC LEADERSHIP: Keeping Power and Disrupting Power
Students will relate the principles of community organizing to civic leadership. They then will critically evaluate proposed tactics that allow leaders to hold power and to disrupt power.
GOAL SETTING
Students will learn how to identify the optimal objectives of leadership. Particular attention will be paid to short- versus long-term goals, complex versus simple goals, and more and less ambitious goals.
COMMUNICATION FOR CIVIC LEADERS
Students will practice increasing the commitment of key stakeholders, communicating effectively through storytelling, and handling a crisis through communication strategies.
NEGOTIATING WITHIN THE CIVIC SECTOR
Students will learn the fundamentals of negotiation and practice several techniques needed to be effective in the civic space.
TYPICAL Topics represented
Education, Public Safety, Social Service, Transportation, Arts and Culture, Environment, Legal, Philanthropy, Workforce, Development, Criminal Justice, Energy,
Economic Development, Community Development, Religious Communities, Community Organizing, Technology
If you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing
Margaret Thatcher
Britain’s first female prime minister