The Civic Impact Academy is a professional development program designed for government and community leaders to enhance leadership skills and drive positive change in their communities. The Civic Impact Academy is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, but the knowledge shared is not limited to the city.

Civic-minded individuals who are over the age of 18.

The program is open to current and aspiring leaders in government, nonprofit organizations, and community groups.

The program runs annually for 14 weeks, starting in September and finishing in early December.

2025 Applications Open July 1, 2025 and close on July 31, 2025.

Program Kick-off Event is September 3, 2025.

Cohort 2 Graduation Event is December 3, 2025.

Yes, there is a program fee of $547 per participant. However, no one will be denied enrollment due to financial constraints. Scholarships and financial aid may be available for eligible applicants.

Cohorts are hybrid experiences. Our first and final sessions are held in person in Charlotte, NC. Most other sessions are held online in our virtual classrooms. Because polling has shown there’s demand for more in-person interaction, we will strive to have one more in-person session, as well as an optional meet up for a history tour.

Each year it is our goal to recruit 20-person cohorts consisting of 10 government leaders and 10 community members. 

Government Leaders including Planning Departments, Communications, Housing and Neighborhood Services, Transportation, Management & Budget Departments, Parks and Recreation, Small Business Support and Economic Development Departments, Policy Makers, Public Safety Representatives, and more.

Community Members & Leaders including Social Impact Entrepreneurs, Activists & Organizers, Community Volunteers, Neighborhood Leaders, Coalition Leaders, Non-Profit Program Staff, Media Professionals, and more.

The curriculum covers a range of topics including understanding power dynamics in advocacy, local historical context (in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, NC), understanding government systems, local government budgeting, media relations, and storytelling. Participants apply learnings to solve for real-life community challenges in key topic areas most impacting our region including affordable housing, education, healthcare, the justice system, environment, land use planning, and access to capital for small businesses.

Participants gain valuable leadership skills, engage in hands-on learning opportunities, and develop an action plan to implement community impact projects. Professional networking and development are built into this program and participants gain best-practices in community engagement.

Participants are selected based on passion for community change and impact, dedication to community service, strength of application responses, and commitment to attend at least 80% of workshop sessions.

Civic Impact Academy is brought to you by Civility Localized, an MWSBE Certified Small Business. This academy comes from the creative mind of Civility Localized founder Christine Edwards Pitkin, MPA. As experts in community engagement and government contracts, the team at Civility Localized is proud to bring a new civic engagement offering to the market.

For more information, please contact us at academy@civilitylocalized.com