Action Academy

What is action Academy?

Action Academy is our Learn & Earn 10-week paid civic leadership program committed to cultivating a pipeline of young Gen Z’ers who are ready to transform themselves and their communities through the foundations of voting justice and history-informed + community-centered organizing. Our program does this through our three pillars:

  • MINDSET | Setting the foundations through history and history-makers

  • MOJO | Making civic organizing personal and community-centered

  • MOBILIZE | Launching into action!

And the best part? Participants earn a $1,000 stipend and civic leadership certificate at the conclusion of the program.

How do we do it? 

We understand that equitable change begins with educating and empowering the next generation of leaders, and we unapologetically pursue this through Action Academy. In close collaboration with community partners, grassroots organizers, civil rights Foot Soldiers and other supporters, Action Academy examines voting rights issues through the lens of intersectionality and marginalized groups. Instructors are drawn from a wide range of experts, including professionals and specialists from a variety of fields, and thought leaders who focus on next-generation cultivation. 

Weekly programming, organized by our Crew Leads, includes a range of interactive activities, from films, documentaries, to discussions with leading leaders in the field of civic work – check out last year’s syllabus. Students will learn how to organize, mobilize, and plan actions that addresses civic challenges such as voting access, mis/disinformation, gerrymandering, and discriminatory redistricting. Moreover, they have the opportunity to work in partnership with their campuses and community organizations to address these issues. 

Program Perks | At a Glance

  • $1,000 stipend and civic leadership certificate (!!!)

  • Gain a substantial understanding of voting rights and voting patterns for all Americans, especially women and other marginalized groups

  • Develop an understanding of the roots of the underrepresentation of women and BIPOC citizens in American electoral politics

  • Learn from mentors and role models about visionary leadership and civic action

  • Build media literacy skills for consumption of information

  • Undertake concrete engagement with elected officials and voters

  • Research and analyze voting history and voting laws across the US

  • Community-centered organizing

  • Leadership development in teams

Who are Crew Leads? 

Former Action Academy graduates who return to the program as paid mentor-leads! Crew Leads facilitate and engage with the current cohort in a mentoring capacity to foster a supportive and dynamic learning environment. Crew Leads not only provide mentorship and guidance, they are provided with opportunities to take on roles and responsibilities allowing them to gain practical experience in organizing and executing program-related activities.

SOME OF OUR GUEST SPEAKERS

Here’s what our past cohort have to say about their experience