A community built for today's
Civic Leaders
Civic Leaders the fellowship community where mission-driven leaders come to be sustained.
We accomplish this mission through two offerings:
A facilitated peer fellowship experience
A community of Civic Leaders alumni who are life long peers and supporters
We see the effort you're putting in, how much you care about your community, and about this work. We also know that fighting the good fight is hard. Let us be in your corner.
The Fellowship Experience
The Inner Leader
1
Empathy, Discernment, Purpose
Before you can effectively navigate the chaos around you, you need to be grounded in who you are and what you stand for. You'll develop frameworks for leading with empathy without losing your edge, practice discernment to know when to say no, and build your personal "Leadership Recovery Plan" because you can't sustain impact running on empty.
Key outcomes: Clear boundaries that protect your effectiveness, tools for difficult conversations, and sustainable practices for staying connected to your mission
Navigating Organizations
2
Power, Bureaucracy, Change
You know your organization could work better, but you're not the CEO, ED, or Mayor. This phase gives you practical tools for creating progress within the systems you actually work in—from mapping power dynamics and building strategic alliances to leading change efforts even when you lack formal authority.
Key outcomes: Frameworks for navigating organizational politics, strategies for building internal support, and techniques for leading change from any position.
Voice and Strategy
3
Storytelling, Facilitation, Strategy
Everyone has good ideas, but not all get implemented. You need to communicate them in ways that move people to action—mastering data-driven arguments wrapped in human stories, facilitating meetings that actually accomplish something, and building strategies that generate both clarity and buy-in.
Key outcomes: Compelling presentation skills, effective meeting facilitation techniques, and frameworks for building strategies that stick.
Integration and Legacy
4
The Ceremony and Your How
This isn't just another fellowship. It's about defining how YOU want to show up in this work for the long haul—taking time for deep reflection on your journey and committing to practices that will sustain you while officially joining the broader Civic Leaders community.
Key outcomes: A personal leadership practice map, clear intentions for your next chapter, and lifelong connections with fellow civic leaders.
Built for leaders like you
Our program is a space for deep learning, reflection, and cultivating your full potential alongside peers who understand your challenges.
Bi-Weekly Sessions
Nine sessions over four months for 3-hours on Saturdays (10am-1pm ET) with your cohort of 12 peers
Alumni Network
Lifelong access to our community—the network IS the program, not an afterthought
Digital Community
Ongoing engagement through our digital platform
Practical Curriculum
Leadership topics like empathy, bureaucracy navigation, storytelling, and change management
Peer Exchange
Guided discussions and case study work with fellow social impact leaders
Accessible Pricing
Our pricing keeps the fellowship accessible via payment plans and employer sponsorships
Got Questions?
Is this fellowship for you?
Impact Oriented
You have 5-15 years of full-time work experience in government or social impact
Values-Driven Boldness
You’re a disruptor and innovator within your organization
People Leader
You’re in a leadership position with at least one direct report (or have been)
Rooted
You’re committed to inclusion and making positive impact in your community
Who We Are
Our team is led by MIT graduates who have been in your shoes and continue to push, organize, and collaborate to build the cities and communities that we deserve.
Meeting at MIT while pursuing a dual degree Master in City Planning/MBA, Mariama and Trace connected over the shared need for a broader community of peers to build with.
Mariama's brainchild, Civic Leader's was officially born in MITdesignX's venture accelerator. The duo is working to build the platform that they've needed and know that many other mission-driven leaders do as well.
Interested in joining our next cohort?
We'll keep you updated when apps open up.
Backed By
