About
The Civic Leadership Academy (CLA) is an interdisciplinary leadership development program for emerging and high-potential leaders in nonprofit organizations and local government agencies within the City of Chicago and Cook County.
Launched in 2014 in partnership with the Harris School of Public Policy and University of Chicago Office of Civic Engagement, CLA is CEG’s flagship leadership training initiative. CLA is known across the City of Chicago and Cook County to be an enriching leadership program for civic workers looking to gain leadership skills and reform institutions to work best for the people they serve.
The application for the 2025 CLA cohort is now open at bit.ly/apply-CLA-2025. Applications are due on Tuesday, September 3rd, 2024 at 5pm CT.
We invite you to learn more about the program at one of our upcoming virtual informational events, where CLA staff and alumni will present and answer your questions about this innovative program. Please find the list of dates for all information sessions below and register here. All information sessions take place via Zoom from 12-1pm CT on their date.
Thursday, June 20th, 2024
Wednesday, June 26th, 2024
Thursday, July 11th, 2024
Thursday, July 18th, 2024
Wednesday, July 31st, 2024
Thursday, August 15th, 2024
Wednesday, August 21st, 2024
Thursday, August 29th, 2024
Civic Leadership Academy fellows—an annual cohort of 30 high-potential leaders of nonprofit organizations and government agencies that serve residents and communities across the city of Chicago—engage in a six-month interdisciplinary leadership development curriculum that includes lectures, case studies, workshops, conversations with civic leaders throughout Chicago, as well as a week-long global practicum abroad.
How will the Civic Leadership Academy benefit you?
Faculty from across the University of Chicago and other institutions, representing a variety of disciplines, teach in the program alongside civic practitioners.