Leadership Academy: Summer Associates Program

The Academy Summer Associate Program

The Academy Summer Associate Program is an intensive 10-week training program for young leaders that have completed, at minimum, their undergraduate degrees by the start of the program. Associates learn about issues impacting California and the nation and manage research and advocacy projects under the direction of a Greenlining staff member. Associates present their findings and projects in both a written and oral report at the end of the program.

Associates participate in leadership skills workshops, attend meetings with key stakeholders, and conduct site visits to community, government, and corporate entities. Overall, Associates are exposed to community leaders, new issues, and new methods of advocacy. Associates receive regular mentorship, professional and personal skill development and are given opportunities to interact with the media, write reports/press releases, testify at key policy hearings, and participate in key meetings with top government officials, corporate CEOs, and political leaders.

As an Associate, one works 37.5 hours per week and earns a $1,700 monthly stipend.

Please click here to meet the 2011 Greenlining Associate Cohort.

Personal and Professional Development Workshops

Personal and professional development workshops are important tools to assist in teaching participants effective skills. These skills they learn will strengthen their capacity to contribute to their Greenlining experience as well as their future opportunities.

Workshops Include:

-          Public Speaking and Effective Presentation

-          General Internet Research

-          Introduction to Greenlining's Negotiation Techniques

-          Introduction to Greenlining's Advocacy and Organizing Techniques

-          Sacramento Ins and Outs and Lobbying

-          Meeting Facilitation

-          Research for Writing a Policy Brief

-          Effective Social Networking

-          Media Spokesperson and Communications

Policy Issue Area Days

Policy issue area days are opportunities for Associates to learn and grow in their understanding of important policy issues impacting California and its most vulnerable populations. Issue days occur on Fridays and consist of 3 meetings or “site visits” with different organizations focusing on the particular issue. These meetings allow Associates to have discussions with leaders in private, public and non-profit sectors to learn about their approaches to creating positive change solution oriented results in their communities.

Issue Day Topics May Include:

-          Financial Regulation

-          Leadership

-          Healthcare  in California

-          Social Media for Social Justice

-          California Government

-          Broadband Technology and Access

-          Access to Higher Education

Site Visits May Include:

-          San Francisco Federal Reserve

-          Bank of the West

-          California Healthcare Foundation

-          The San Francisco Foundation

-          The State Capital, Sacramento

-          Public Policy Institute of California

-          PolicyLink

Past Associate projects encompassed the following issue areas:

-          Media and Communications

-          Community Reinvestment

-          Health Policy

-          Sustainable Development

-          Renewable Energy

Questions? Please read our Summer Associate Program FAQ

Need more information? Please read our Summer Associate Fact Sheet

Applying To The Summer Associate Program

Applications are available HERE

• A complete application requires:
• A completed application form
• Personal statement
• A current resume
• Two letters of recommendation (must be sent with entire application package)
• Copies of all higher education transcripts (unofficial transcripts are accepted)

Application Postmark Deadline: January 13, 2012

Participants are carefully selected to represent Greenlining’s constituency in terms of age, education, work and volunteer experience, political perspective, and ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. Individuals from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply; there are no preferred majors.