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Across New York City, in every community, residents want to make New York City a better place for children. Citizens' Committee for Children of New York, Inc. (CCC) provides this opportunity through its Community Leadership Course (CLC). This specialized training program introduces New Yorkers to the challenges facing and opportunities available children and youth growing up in New York City. The CLC prepares dozens of new advocates every year to make a difference for New York’s children.
The CLC is unique in its approach of providing aspiring community leaders with the necessary resources to advocate for a brighter future for New York City children. The CLC equips potential advocates with an understanding of children’s services, policies, issues, and budgets. The CLC trains New Yorkers to become activists for children, and in the process, become community leaders that work toward Securing Every Child’s Birthright to be healthy, housed, educated and safe.
CLC participants learn in detail how New York City government impacts the lives of children and families. The CLC surveys some of the city’s most underserved communities and on-going efforts to improve conditions for children. The course provides a window into the lives of families needing assistance and facing significant barriers to housing, economic and developmental security.
The course convenes on nine Wednesdays in the fall, and begins with a poverty simulation that provides a meaningful perspective into the challenges faced by vulnerable families trying to live, work and raise their children in New York City. The following eight sessions entail field visits that give participants a chance to observe a wide range of programs serving children, youth and families. Lunch follows with an afternoon seminar at CCC where participants have the opportunity to discuss what they observed with program and policy experts who offer context and commentary in an engaging discussion. Guest speakers include elected and appointed officials as well as leaders in a wide variety of fields.
The Community Leadership Course, launched in 1961, has become a model for scores of similar programs across the country. More than 1,600 participants, including foundation officers, clergy, lawyers, educators, doctors, community leaders, legislative staff, parents and other concerned New Yorkers, have taken the CLC and sharpened their advocacy skills.
CLC graduates have used the course as a foundation for activism on behalf of children, advancing their commitment by:
- Partnering with CCC's professional staff to analyze policy and services provided to children, youth and families.
- Advocating successfully in Albany and at City Hall for budget, policy and legislative reforms.
- Launching new organizations for children and families.
- Working for foundations to better target grantmaking.
- Serving on city and state government-sponsored committees.
- Joining non-profit agency boards of directors.
- Income Security and Child Poverty
- Housing and Family Homelessness
- Child Health and Mental Health
- Child Care and Early Education
- Education
- Child Welfare
- Juvenile Justice and Youth Development
- Family Court
- Community Development and Family Life
- Advocacy and Government
- Bellevue Hospital Center
- Family Court
- Horizons Juvenile Detention Center
- Bloomingdale Family Program, Inc.
- Henry Street Settlement House
- Job Centers
- New Settlement Apartments
- Child Health Clinics
- The Children's Village
- Housing Court
- School-Based Health Clinics
- Elmhurst Hospital, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Easter Seals Child Development Center
- Children's Aid Society Teen Center
- Frederick Douglass Academy
- Food and Finance High School
An application and interview are required. The fee for the course is $900. Full and partial scholarships are available.
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