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Civic Leadership Academy

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 2026 CLA cohort is open now at bit.ly/apply-CLA-2026. All application materials are due Monday, September 8th, 2025 at 5pm CT.

To learn more about the program, RSVP for an upcoming virtual information session where CLA staff and alumni will present and answer questions about the program. All information sessions take place via Zoom from 12-1pm CT on their date.

  • Wednesday, June 18th, 2025

  • Wednesday, July 2nd, 2025

  • Wednesday, July 16th, 2025

  • Wednesday, July 30th, 2025

  • Wednesday, August 6th, 2025

  • Wednesday, August 13th, 2025

  • Wednesday, August 20th, 2025

  • Wednesday, August 27th, 2025

Please email civicleadershipacademy@uchicago.edu with any questions.

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.

What makes the Civic Leadership Academy distinctive?

Impact

Bridging Differences

“Seeing such diverse perspectives, I think, is probably the single most important thing that has ever happened to my career."

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Jermaine Harris (CLA'19), Community Policing Lieutenant, Chicago Police Department

Impact

Connecting Academics and Practitioners

“I have learned as much from these sessions as I hope they do. That’s why I take a humble posture with them. I accede to them that they know more than I do about leadership, and I’m just a conduit for this very famous book about leadership (Machiavelli’s The Prince) that may prove to be helpful to them.”

Read more >

John P. McCormick, Professor of Political Science, University of Chicago

Impact

Reaching University Students

“And as you learn more and more about the CLA universe and the University of Chicago connections, you realize you now are connected to every CLA class before you and you are a resource for every student that comes after you.”

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Shavion Scott (CLA’20), Managing Director of Urban Resilience, Center for Neighborhood Technology

Impact

Invaluable Resources

“What makes CLA unique, from my perspective, is that it gives both social and technical support to leaders. Going to the Civic Leadership Academy was like hitting the lottery in my mind—getting access to so many talented people.”

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Darnell Shields ’15, Executive Director, Austin Coming Together

Impact

Cross-Sector Collaboration

"The interdisciplinary nature of the program broadened my perspective, encouraging collaboration across different sectors and pushing me to think innovatively. I still think on the provocative conversations and discussions around negotiation, policing, and racial equity."

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Kathleen St. Louis Caliento (CLA'17), President and CEO, Cara Collective

Impact

Strategic Alliances

“CLA gave Coleman ‘this idea of really thinking about people and mapping them to what needs to happen for the outcomes and the goals, and then making those strategic alliances."

Read more >

Kia Coleman ’16, Director of Juvenile Justice Programs, City of Chicago Department of Family and Support Services

People

Meet the Civic Leadership Academy faculty and the fellows who are working collaboratively to address structural challenges facing residents of Chicago and Cook County.

Get Involved

The application to join the 2026 CLA cohort may be found at bit.ly/apply-CLA-2026. All application materials are due Monday, September 8th, 2025 at 5pm CT. Please email civicleadershipacademy@uchicago.edu with any questions.