Partnering with the Close Up Foundation, the Leaders in Advocacy Academy will bring together a diverse group of students from across the United States and the world to participate in an intensive, hands-on program exploring various strategies for organizing people and influencing policy. You’ll be immersed in the real world of decision-making and advocacy in Washington, D.C., hearing directly from policy and media experts, think tanks, advocacy organizations, and influencers from both sides of the aisle. Through workshops, lectures, and leadership case studies, you’ll examine the complexities of major current issues and the practice of crafting persuasive arguments and compelling messages to support various positions. You’ll leave the program well equipped to take on leadership roles at school, in the local community, and in the global community.
How You'll Benefit
- Engage with leaders of nonprofits, liberal and conservative think tanks and organizations, lobbying firms, and community coalitions to learn strategies for influencing policy and public opinion
- Meet with Members of Congress and staff on Capitol Hill to learn how they think about and respond to different forms of advocacy and stakeholders
- Use memorials and museums to consider the impact of elected officials and private citizens
- Participate in workshops to learn and practice leadership and communication skills
- Gain exposure to a variety of perspectives and leadership roles
Program Format & Subject Areas
As a student in the Leaders in Advocacy Academy, you'll spend your day immersed in a blend of classroom lectures, field trips, hands-on activities, and group discussions. Throughout the course of the week, you'll have the opportunity to explore the following subject areas:
- Case studies of leadership in 2018
- Coalition and consensus building
- Lobbying and advocacy (professional advocates)
- Organizing for community and citizen activism
- Decision-making at the leadership level
- Strategic messaging
- Networking
- Impacting current policy debates
Nicole LyonIt was amazing to be surrounded by such high caliber students and staff who were all encouraging and fabulous to work with. I took away many positive things from my week as a Summer Hoya.
Jazzelle DeLaneyThe program offers so much–from the off-site visits to the daily lectures and the on campus activities. The lectures were interesting, meeting new people was great and the off-site visits were interactive and intriguing.
Trevor DaltonMy #SummerHoya experience was enriching, inspiring, and rewarding; if I could turn back the clock, I’d do it all over again.
Grace HermesAs I am filling out my college applications, I am able to think back to my memories from the summer and I am reassured that I am pursuing the right educational path.
Anthony DuPrauHaving the chance to experience once in a lifetime opportunities and getting to meet people from around the world made it so I got to really experience what college life was like.