The Faith Leaders Civic Engagement Academy energizes faith and environmental justice communities by offering a 3-day training in collaboration with the SC Office of Minority Affairs. The goal of the Academy is to educate individuals on how to engage and organize to bring about needed change. The Civic Engagement Academy has seventeen graduates.
“I was first attracted to the idea of a faith leaders oriented Civic Engagement Academy because it is perfectly aligned with my philosophy of community engagement. I believe in the unique ability of the faith community to address social and environmental injustices. The Civic Engagement Academy helped connect me to a network of faith leaders committed to social and environmental justice”
LaRahna Hughes
Board Member, Farmer, Faith LeaderFaith Leaders, Change Makers
Launched in January 2021 and conducted in partnership with the SC Commission for Minority Affairs, Moms Clean Air Force and Audubon South Carolina, the Civic Engagement Academy targets faith leaders in low-wealth communities in South Carolina. Program topics focus on building a foundational understanding of policy, politics and advocacy. Participants learn about elected offices, advocacy basics, and participate in practical application in areas such as clean energy, environmental justice, economic equity, and social justice. The program empowers these leaders to build awareness in their communities, understand major federal and state policy platforms, and inspire collective action. In addition to the virtual training, participants receive an advocacy toolkit and are invited to participate in an Audubon hosted bird walk with legislators. Seventeen participants have completed the academy since it was launched in January 2021.
History
- April 2021 – Seven more faith leaders graduate from the Civic Engagement Academy
- February 2021 – Civic Engagement Academy graduates its’ first nine faith leaders
- January 2021 – SCIPL partners with the SC Commission for Minority Affairs, Moms Clean Air Force and Audubon South Carolina, to develop a Civic Engagement Academy curriculum specifically for faith leaders in low-wealth communities in South Carolina