The Policy Circle

The Bowe Stewart Foundation has committed multi-year support to the Policy Circle’s innovative Civic Leadership and Engagement Roadmap Program (CLER). This experiential leadership program takes participants from having general civic knowledge to becoming local civic leaders. The program ignites courage in women to take ownership of solutions in their communities and equips them to become leaders who restore civil society through public policies that promote freedom and personal responsibility.

Through this partnership with the Foundation, the Policy Circle will be able to expand the program through targeted outreach, provide additional online events, and provide scholarships for worthy participants.


CIVIC LEADERSHIP ENGAGEMENT ROADMAP

The Civic Leadership Engagement Roadmap (CLER) program is an experiential, three-month, self-paced leadership program that guides participants from having general civic knowledge to becoming a civic leader. This unique leadership program features one-on-one coaching, peer groups, networking opportunities, and specific activities designed to build solid connections with local policy leaders and decision-makers. As of 2026, the program has produced:

300+ Course graduates

1,200+ stories of impact

120 Graduates Assumed Positions of Civic Leadership

62 GRADUATES LED ADVOCACY EFFORTS

The support of the Bowe Stewart Foundation enabled the Policy Circle to launch a targeted CLER outreach to members of the military community. The CLER Military Outreach resulted in 89 enrolled CLER participants from military communities.

There are three learning tracks within CLER. The three courses, described in detail in the accordions below, focus on different spheres of government and policy:

  • In CLER 1.0, participants deepen their understanding of the Constitution and broaden their knowledge of local government to enhance civic engagement. 

  • CLER 2.0 invites graduates of the first module of the CLER curriculum to the next level of civic engagement. Participants expand their knowledge of state and federal government, and learn how to engage stakeholders to increase their impact.

  • The CLER: Education program offers an interactive roadmap to engage with local education stakeholders. Designed for anyone passionate about education, it goes beyond hot-button issues to prepare each participant as a knowledgeable advocate, informed community member, and potential leader in education.

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full circle LEADERSHIP series

The Full Circle Leadership Series, underwritten by the Bowe Stewart Foundation, focused on the skills, mindset, and strategic thinking needed to become more effective, persuasive, and influential leaders. These interactive, virtual events featured a mix of practical insights from women who have walked the walk - from securing appointments and legislative victories to building compelling stories and strong collaborations. The program had 10,000+ programming views.