“I Have a Voice and I Have Power”: CELI Graduates Step Into Civic Leadership
Ten community leaders completed six sessions of intensive learning and developed clearer pathways into boards, commissions, advocacy, and public decision-making.
“My best takeaway from the training is that I have a voice and I have power. I can use it to promote change and wellness for my community.”
For Alejandra, a participant in the Spring 2026 Community Education Leadership Institute, information and preparation became sources of confidence. Her reflection captures the growth that unfolded across the cohort as participants learned how local government works and identified opportunities to shape decisions affecting their communities.
Record Interest in Community Leadership
FIERCE Advocates received 30 applications for the Spring 2026 CELI cohort, the highest number in the Leadership Institute’s history. Twelve applicants were accepted, and ten completed every assignment, participation expectation, and attendance requirement.
The cohort maintained an attendance rate above 90 percent across six Saturday sessions held from March through May.
Participants entered CELI with a wide range of experiences. Some had attended public meetings or served on a board, while others were beginning to explore civic engagement for the first time. Each person brought personal experiences, community priorities, and a desire to become a stronger advocate.
“Since our last meeting, I have been researching boards and commissions that interest me,” shared Annabel after the first session. “I’m realizing it would be beneficial to attend a meeting to better understand what happens there, especially when it is in my area of interest.”
Learning How Decisions Are Made
Across six sessions, CELI participants explored:
Boards and commissions
Power and influence
Budgets and policy development
Inside and outside organizing strategies
The Brown Act and public meeting requirements
Public comment and effective public speaking
Accountability, transparency, and community engagement
Guest presenters helped participants connect these concepts to situations they could encounter in public meetings and leadership roles. Participants asked data-informed questions, examined how public resources are distributed, and considered how policy decisions affect families throughout their communities.
The cohort also participated in a mock board meeting. Without practicing their assigned roles beforehand, participants stepped into the exercise with confidence and demonstrated how much they had learned.
After a session on civic engagement and public speaking, Christina reflected, “Each session has provided valuable knowledge and strengthened my confidence to make public comments and even consider joining a committee.”
A Community of Leaders
Learning happened through the curriculum and through the relationships participants developed with one another. The cohort created a supportive environment where people could speak openly about leadership, advocacy, and the obstacles they were navigating.
Participants shared resources, encouraged one another, and built connections that have continued beyond the program.
Cairo, FIERCE’s Leadership & Coaching Coordinator, observed that the cohort helped restore confidence among community leaders while giving them the knowledge and reinforcement needed to pursue tangible change.
That commitment remained strong as participants navigated transportation and childcare responsibilities. FIERCE provided childcare during sessions when needed, helping parents participate fully. When water damage at the FIERCE office required the program to relocate midway through the cohort, the Richmond Museum of History & Culture welcomed CELI for its remaining sessions.
Despite these changes, attendance remained consistently high.
Turning Learning Into Action
By graduation on May 16, participants were already identifying ways to use their new knowledge:
One graduate received a job offer in the advocacy field
One completed a master’s program and will join the FIERCE Leadership Council
Four began completing applications for boards in their cities
Four are building additional community leadership experience as they determine their next civic engagement opportunities
Every graduate expressed interest in joining a board or commission and continuing to strengthen their leadership skills. Cairo is working with each participant to create an individualized pathway for continued engagement.
“The biggest thing I gained from CELI was confidence,” shared Jennifer. “I came into the program wanting to learn more about advocacy and civic engagement, but I leave feeling more prepared to speak up, ask questions, and participate in conversations that impact children and families.”
For the ten members of the Spring 2026 cohort, graduation opened the next stage of their leadership journeys. They leave CELI equipped with stronger civic knowledge, deeper community connections, and greater confidence in their ability to participate in the spaces where local decisions are made.
