Civic Leadership Engagement Roadmap

The Civic Leadership Engagement Roadmap (CLER) is an experiential, three-month, self-paced leadership program that takes you from having general civic knowledge to becoming a civic leader.

CLER is designed to help emerging and aspiring women leaders expand their impact through civic engagement. Our innovative, action-oriented curriculum is designed to inform, prepare, and build the next generation of community leaders.

The CLER curriculum features one-on-one coaching, mastermind peer groups, networking opportunities, and curated activities designed to help you build connections with local policy leaders and decision-makers. CLER is an opportunity for you to learn how to take intentional actions to become a more impactful citizen and connect with other civic-minded women representing a diverse range of business experiences, backgrounds, and community involvement.

The three CLER courses, described in detail below, focus on different spheres of government and policy:

Applications now accepted for the following cohorts:

Spring 2025 (February 1 – April 30) – Application Deadline January 7
Summer 2025 (June 1 – August 31) – Application Deadline May 5
Fall 2025 (September 1 – November 30) – Application Deadline August 1

Space is limited.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is CLER?

The Policy Circle’s Civic Leadership Engagement Roadmap (CLER) is a three-month, self-paced leadership program that allows you to develop a stronger foundation of civic knowledge and build pathways for civic leadership within your community. CLER is designed to inform, prepare, and propel aspiring and emerging women leaders.

What will I get out of CLER?

CLER features proprietary curriculum, one-on-one coaching, engagement with peer groups, and networking opportunities to allow you to connect with local policy leaders and decision-makers in your community. You will walk away with deeper civic knowledge and a curated skillset tailored to the needs of your community and your civic leadership goals.

Who is CLER meant for?

CLER is designed for curious, civic-minded women from diverse backgrounds aged 18 or older who are looking to expand their impact through local engagement. The program embraces civic engagement rooted in free market principles and personal agency, with participants having aligned values in this philosophy.

Which CLER course is right for me?

There are currently three different CLER courses designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to empower your leadership journey:

CLER 1.0: Founding Principles & Local Government is an opportunity to take a deep dive into your local government and build a foundational understanding of the U.S. Constitution and government structure.
CLER 2.0: State & Federal Government (invite-only) is an opportunity to delve deeper into the workings of state political parties, how bills and legislation take shape, and the roles of the three branches of government on the national and local levels.
CLER: Education is an opportunity to better understand the inner workings of your local school district, the role that the state and federal government play in shaping it, the details of serving on a school board, and more.

What is the time commitment?

CLER is a three-month self-paced course, which includes monthly virtual meetings, and a minimum of six hours of monthly activity, resulting in an estimated 18 hours of total engagement.

How much does it cost to participate?

The program participant fee for CLER is $300, which can be made as a one-time payment, or spread out into 3 payments of $100. Payment must be initiated in order to be enrolled in the program, prior to the first meeting. The Policy Circle wants CLER to remain accessible, so if you are unable to make this commitment, please contact Beth McQueen, The Policy Circle’s Membership Engagement Manager, at [email protected] to request an Award Application.

What are the prerequisites for each CLER course?

There are no prerequisites to participate in CLER 1.0: Founding Principles & Local Government or CLER: Education. Participation in CLER 2.0 is by invitation-only, and participants must have completed CLER 1.0 to be eligible for participation.

What is the withdrawal policy?

Once the CLER program has started, no refunds are given if there’s a need to withdraw. However, we understand that life happens, which might change your plans for finishing the CLER program. If extreme circumstances arise, we will work with you. We also allow you to postpone to a future cohort. If you need to withdraw or postpone, please reach out to us as soon as possible.

Learn about our Strategic Outreach Initiatives:

You will:

Build confidence to engage with leaders in your community and drive action
Identify personal areas of growth and develop leadership capacity through world-class training
Connect with other women leaders and special guests from across the country
Demonstrate awareness of the policies and issues that impact individuals and communities
Engage in complex conversations and learn how to navigate diverse perspectives

What Graduates Say:

“The CLER program has helped me understand the fundamentals of the U.S. government, and instilled enough confidence to lead and influence for the betterment of my community. I recommend this program to the people who are immigrants, and have a passion for public service, but do not have a clear understanding of U.S. Constitution and the way government functions.”

Vasavi, Illinois Circle Leader and CLER Graduate

“The depth of material provided through the CLER program strengthened my political knowledge base more than I could’ve imagined. As one who desires to run for political office someday, this program built confidence, knowledge and connections that will last a lifetime.”

Lindsay, Indiana Circle Leader and CLER Graduate

“The Policy Circle’s CLER program helped me determine how to leverage my experience to effect change in my community.”

ZeNai, CLER 2021 Graduate

CLER 1.0:
Founding Principles & Local Government

CLER 1.0 is designed to take you to the next level of civic engagement by guiding you through a deep dive of your local government to help you:

obtain a greater understanding and appreciation of the founding of our country, the U.S. Constitution and overall governmental structure
gain clarity on how your local government works, including local election processes
build relationships with local stakeholders and elected officials
identify your unique areas of interest
engage with your community at the local level

After completing CLER 1.0, you will be equipped with a strong foundation of how your local government operates and a deeper understanding of how you fit in as a change agent to become more active in your community.

CLER 1.0 is a three-month, self-paced course, which includes two monthly virtual meetings, and approximately six hours of monthly experiential engagement.

Spring 2025 (February 1 – April 30) – Application Deadline January 7
Summer 2025 (June 1 – August 31) – Application Deadline May 5
Fall 2025 (September 1 – November 30) – Application Deadline August 1

CLER 2.0:
State & Federal Government

CLER 2.0 invites graduates of the first module of our CLER curriculum to the next level of civic engagement.

Graduation from CLER 1.0 is a prerequisite for eligibility in this program.

During CLER 2.0, you will have the opportunity to understand and experience:

the workings of state political parties, what they stand for and who the influencers are in the party apparatus
how a bill is passed and possibly make a difference in shaping legislation by building relationships with your local legislators and providing testimony on a bill
how the executive branch works while also learning how to participate in the process of appointments to boards and commissions that have statewide impact
how the third branch of government, the judiciary, works in your state
an overview of the federal legislative process and how the federal budget works

After completing CLER 2.0, you will be inspired to become more engaged at the state and federal level.

Spring 2025 (February 1 – April 30)
Summer 2025 (June 1 – August 31)

Participation in CLER 2.0 is by invitation only for graduates of CLER 1.0.

CLER: Education
Education Policy & School Boards

The CLER: Education program is not a series of one-way webinars but rather an experiential roadmap to active engagement where you will be encouraged to interact with education stakeholders in your community.

The hot-button issues in education are just a small fraction of the responsibilities of a school board member and what you need to watch for as a parent. CLER: Education is a launchpad to prepare you to be an effective advocate with substantive knowledge, to be an informed parent armed with important questions, or to assume a leadership role in education for your community.

During CLER: Education, you will learn about:

how to be an advocate for your student
the role of the federal government in your local school district
the role of the state board of education in your local school district
how your local school district measures success
how your local school district is funded
how your local school district is structured and who is making the decisions
the nuts and bolts of serving on a school board
what innovations are possible to provide a high-quality educational experience for students

After completing CLER: Education, you will be empowered with the tools and information you need to become an education advocate in your community and ensure that excellence in education is the top priority in your local school district.

CLER: Education is a stand-alone course with no prerequisites.

Spring 2025 (February 1 – April 30) – Application Deadline January 7
Fall 2025 (September 1 – November 30) – Application Deadline August 1

Appointments Happening Now!