Quantum Civics Leadership Program

Staff contact: Sean Kershaw (651-289-1070 or skershaw[at]citizensleague.org)

The mission of the Citizens League is to build civic imagination and capacity to create a new model for policy making in Minnesota. Developing leaders who can govern for the common good is a critical part of achieving this mission. And given the unique, multi-partisan and multi-issue/multi-sector role of the Citizens League, and a renewed interest in redefining "civic engagement," civic leadership development is also one of the Citizens League's great opportunities.

How our approach is unique: The Citizens League's Quantum Civics Leadership program capitalizes on these opportunities to be an active citizen and civic leader. We believe:

  • Civic leadership happens everywhere: Civic identify and civic skills are developed in institutions where people spend time. Rather than dealing with active citizenship as it if happened only in government or "out there," where it might be difficult to have an impact, we build participants' capacity to be active citizens where they spend time and have authority to act. We deliberately work with Minnesotans at all levels in all types of institutions: where they can achieve their individual goals, support the mission of those institutions, and contribute to the common good.

  • Civic leadership education requires both theory and skill-building: We combine education on big ideas about democracy, justice and civics with practical skill-building opportunities and the chance to imagine and implement an individual workplan to be a civic leaders.

Outcomes: through 4-6 hours of interactive presentations and conversations at your work site or a 10-week public session, the program achieves the following outcomes:

  • Introduces the need for and definition of active citizenship and civic leadership
  • Introduces a fundamental set of civic concepts, including justice, democracy and politics
  • Describes a set of civic principles, strategies and skills, and their applicability to active citizenship
  • Provides an assessment tool for evaluating institutions and active citizenship opportunities
  • Describes further opportunities to develop civic leadership capacity an an individual workplan

We are also developing an ongoing skill-building component for alumni. For more information, contact Sean Kershaw at 651-293-0575 ext. 14 or skershaw[at]citizensleague.org.