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 is a self-paced, experiential program designed to strengthen knowledge of American founding principles and the importance of local engagement. This unique leadership program features one-on-one coaching, mastermind peer groups, networking opportunities, and specific activities designed to build solid connections with local policy leaders and decision-makers. As of 2023, the program has produced:

270 participants

800+ stories of impact

158 Course Graduates

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

  • This track takes participants to the next level of civic engagement by guiding them through a deep dive into local government. Participants:

    • Obtain a greater understanding and appreciation of the founding of our country, the U.S. Constitution, and overall governmental structure

    • Gain clarity on how their local government works, including local election processes

    • Build relationships with local stakeholders and elected officials

    • Identify their unique areas of interest

    • Engage with their community at the local level

  • This track invites graduates of the first CLER module to the next level of civic engagement. Graduation from CLER 1.0 is a prerequisite for eligibility in this program. During CLER 2.0, participants have opportunities to understand and experience:

    • The workings of state political parties, what they stand for, and who the influencers are in the party apparatus

    • How a bill is passed and possibly makes a difference in shaping legislation by building relationships with local legislators and providing testimony on a bill

    • How the executive branch works while also learning how to participate in the process of appointments to boards and commissions that have statewide impact

    • How the third branch of government, the judiciary, works in their state

    • An overview of the federal legislative process and how the federal budget works

  • This track is not a series of passive webinars, but rather an experiential roadmap to active engagement where participants are encouraged to interact with education stakeholders in their communities. While getting the most attention, hot-button issues make up a small percentage of what educators, administrators, and parents need to address in schools. CLER 3.0: Education prepares participants to be effective and informed advocates who can ask vital questions and assume leadership roles in public and charter school settings. Participants will learn:

    • How to be an advocate for students

    • The role of the federal government in education

    • The role of the state board of education

    • How curriculum is developed at the state level and implemented at the local level

    • How their local school district measures success

    • How their local school district is funded

    • How their local school district is structured and who is making the key decisions

    • The nuts and bolts of serving on a school board

    • What innovations are possible to provide a high-quality educational experience for all students


full circle LEADERSHIP series

The Full Circle Leadership Series, underwritten by the Bowe Stewart Foundation, focuses on the skills, mindset, and strategic thinking needed to become more effective, persuasive, and influential leaders. These interactive, virtual events feature 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. As of 2023, this series has 10,000+ programming views.