The Montgomery County Community Action Board is now accepting applications for its Community Advocacy Institute (CAI). This free, eight-month program aims to equip residents with essential advocacy skills and provide opportunities to engage with critical community issues.
Open to Montgomery County residents with household incomes of $67,000 or less, the CAI will offer workshops on engaging elected officials, storytelling, research, developing testimony, public speaking, and key advocacy issues. Participants must attend all workshops, keep their cameras on during virtual sessions, and complete a final advocacy project to graduate.
Sessions will begin in October and end in May, with four in-person meetings and five virtual meetings. Travel and dependent care reimbursement is available upon request.
The program offers sessions in both English and Spanish, with interpretation and written materials provided.
“Participating in the Community Advocacy Institute helps our residents learn how to advocate for their communities effectively,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “This program highlights the importance of effective public speaking, research, and engaging with elected officials. I strongly encourage residents to take advantage of this free training to become more involved in the decision-making processes that shape our County.”
The CAI has graduated over 140 participants since the start of the program in 2016. Many of these graduates now serve on County advisory groups and nonprofit boards, actively contributing to significant advocacy efforts within the community.
Applications are due by Friday, Aug. 9. Full program details and the application form are available on the Community Action Agency website.
