Civic Leadership Academy (CLA)

The Civic Leadership Academy (CLA) is a highly-competitive leadership development program for emerging and high-potential leaders in non-profit organizations and local government agencies within the City of Chicago and Cook County. Civic Leadership Academy fellows engage in a six-month interdisciplinary leadership development curriculum that includes classes taught by world-renowned University of Chicago faculty, original Chicago-based case studies to uncover core lessons about civic leadership in an applied setting, conversations with civic leaders throughout Chicago, as well as a week-long global practicum in Paris.

Eligibility

Full-time employee of a Chicago nonprofit organization
Demonstrate a strong track record of leadership, innovation, and high performance
Minimum of five years of work experience in the civic sector
Be nominated by a supervisor and provide one additional letter of recommendation
Be intellectually curious, reflective, ambitious, innovative, collaborative, and committed to positive change
CPS Leader (Typically Pay Grades S09 – S16)
No active discipline issues at CPS (e.g., CAP, PIP, Warning Resolution, etc.).
At least one year of service with CPS
Have not received a Lead with CPS sponsorship in the last year

How to Apply

The application for the 2025 CLA cohort has closed. Applications for the 2026 CLA cohort will open in early summer 2025. Please fill out this interest form to be notified when applications are open.

All interested staff members are encouraged to apply. The Talent Office can cover the program cost for a limited number of CPS employees, and CLA may select up to 2 CPS employees to represent Chicago Public Schools in the upcoming cohort.

Eligible Role

Central & Network Offices

Organization

University of Chicago

Duration

6 month duration of 130 hours of curriculum

Time commitment

6 month duration of 130 hours of curriculum

Application window

The application for the 2025 CLA cohort has closed. Applications for the 2026 CLA cohort will open in summer 2025.

Contact

leadwithcps@cps.edu for questions about sponsorship, civicleadershipacademy@uchicago.edu for questions about the program or application process

Cost

$10,000 cost per person, covered by a Lead with CPS Sponsorship if selected