Civic Leadership Program

Your pathway to active citizenship

Learn and practice the skills of engaging with your communities and creating positive social change alongside 14 other committed first and second year students. The Civic Leadership Program spans a Spring, Summer, and Fall term, includes two one-credit course opportunities, and provides you at least $1000 for a community-impact summer project.

Apply to Join the 2025 Cohort

The application is open until October 30, 2024.

Why Join:

Unique opportunities like meeting with civic leaders, attending social change conferences, and completing meaningful community projects
Credit and funding for your community engagement
Supportive community among a cohort of students dedicated to positive social change
Personal and purposeful advising to strengthen your leadership skills

"At the beginning of the year, I joined because I really enjoyed community service and wanted to help people. This is still true, but I have a more nuanced, advanced perspective now. I am developing the skills and resources needed to combat complex social issues." -Civic Leadership Program past participant

Core Experiences

description of the core experiences of the program
Spring: Community Engagement in Context (1 Credit Course) Mondays 1-1:50 We will learn and apply concepts and practices that support effective, justice-oriented service work as part of a community. We will explore ideas of what community can be and what it means to lead and serve in a community context. You will complete at least eight community engagement experiences as part of the course. Example assignments: Community Issue Annotated Bibliography Root Cause Analysis Exercise Speak Up Advocacy Video Civic Leadership Portfolio
Summer: Funded Community Experiences You will complete a community engagement experience (direct service or community-based internship) which fits your interests, skills, and schedule. You are expected to spend at least 65 hours on this experience and will receive at least $1000 as compensation for your efforts. You may either develop your own experience in partnership with a community organization or apply for an existing program or internship (which may require a greater time commitment and provide greater funding). Example summer experiences selected/created by students Advocacy internship with Seaside Sustainability Sustainable farming experience in Ecuador Internship with Legal Aid Sustained volunteering at hometown food pantry Participate in summer mutual aid initiative Service leader for Richmond Justice Program
Fall: Community Engagement on Campus (1 credit course) Tuesdays 4-4:50 Together we will deepen our commitment to community-centered civic leadership through readings, applied learning, critical reflection, and collective action. We will strengthen our civic identities and ability to work with others for positive social change. You will select and complete a community-engaged project focused on a particular social issue or community organization as part of the course. Civic and Career Identity Exercise Collective Action Project Critical Reflections Civic Leadership Portfolio
Beyond After completing the Spring-Summer-Fall cycle, upperclass students in the Civic Leadership Program will: Engage in sustained community partnerships developed either independently or through existing W&M programs and student organizations (such as Branch Out Alternative Breaks, CKI, Williamsburg Engagement, etc.) Serve in leadership and advisory roles for Civic & Community Engagement including serving on grant and award review committees, leading student service teams for one-day or weekly programs, representing the department at campus and community events, etc. Compile a Civic Leadership portfolio reflecting your active citizenship experiences and growth

The Civic Leadership Program is coordinated by Elizabeth Miller.

Why Join:

Core Experiences

Spring: Community Engagement in Context (1 Credit Course)

Summer: Funded Community Experiences

Fall: Community Engagement on Campus (1 credit course)

Beyond