The Arizona Center for Civic Leadership is accepting applications for the Spring 2013 session of the Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy. Application portfolios are due by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, November 16, 2012.

The Academy will run from early March to mid-May 2013.

Over 100 Arizonans have participated in the Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy to date and they are showing their commitment to civic leadership in Arizona. Fellows are running for statewide office, applying for state boards and commissions, and seeking positions as state agency executives. Are you interested in joining this tremendous network, learning more about Arizona’s most pressing public-policy issues, and developing a pathway to civic leadership?

Now recruiting for its fifth session, the Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy is looking for a cohort of approximately 25 Arizonans who will continue to represent an array of perspectives, life experiences, leadership roles, employment backgrounds, and geographic locations. Previous Academy Fellows have come from Kykotsmovi, Flagstaff, Jerome, Cottonwood, Globe, Goodyear, Mesa, Tempe, Phoenix, Vail, Tucson, Safford, and cities and towns in between.

Fellows are also current and up-and-coming leaders in Arizona’s business, industry, nonprofit, education, and public sectors. For many, the Academy provides the support critical to pursuing civic leadership in tandem with established, demanding careers. For others, the Academy is an introduction to state-level service as a full-time occupation or encore career. The program is not intended for those who are already state-level elected officials or paid staff members of a political party.

There is no charge for participation in the Academy. Events take place at the Flinn Foundation in Phoenix. Standard transportation and lodging expenses are covered for Fellows who live outside of Maricopa County.

A brochure with detailed information about the Spring Academy is available for download below.

Please contact AzCCL program manager, Emily Rajakovich,  at erajakovich@flinn.org or 602-744-6828 with any questions.

After reading the brochure, you may begin building your application portfolio here.

About the Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy

The Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy is the flagship program of the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership. The Academy was created to help prepare and support future state-level civic leaders who want to serve – whether full-time or part-time, paid or unpaid – as an elected official; a state government executive; a policy advisor; or as a member of a state board, commission, or advisory council. Through the Academy, participants develop a better understanding of Arizona’s public-policy issues, politics, and perspectives.

Academy Components

• A series of 12 daylong seminars over approximately a three-month period. Timely topics, pertinent policy and political analysis, a range of perspectives, and learning from leaders are hallmarks of the Flinn-Brown seminars. Upon completion of the seminars, Fellows have a significantly greater understanding of Arizona’s major public-policy issues; an appreciation of the complexity state policymakers face; and greater resources for political analysis and other critical skills. The Academy includes a small-team project to analyze a public-policy issue and provide recommendations that consider real-world implications.
• Development of a personal plan for state-level civic leadership. Fellows are expected to pursue activities which will support achievement of their goals for state-level involvement.
• Formal advising over a period of about six months. Fellows are matched with a public or private-sector advisor to develop, and begin to implement, their individual civic-leadership plan.
• Follow-up support for state-level civic leadership. From further learning about public policy to networking and special events with state and national leaders, Fellows have ongoing support from the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership.

Ideal Candidates

The strongest applicant for the Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy…

• Possesses a keen desire to be a state-level civic leader in Arizona.
• Is committed to civic involvement personally and to encouraging civic engagement among Arizonans.
• Has a significant interest in state-level public-policy issues, analysis, and solutions.
• Shows interest in and has the capacity to consider different perspectives and make fact-driven decisions for the common good.
• Exhibits the ability to be an effective leader, as seen in a combination of current or past work experience, business, volunteer, school, or church activities, civic activities, issue advocacy, or local elected office.
• Has taken other preparatory steps to becoming a civic leader, such as participation in a local or regional leadership-training program.

Academy Application Process

To be considered for the Academy, you must complete an online application, provide a current resume, and supply letters of endorsement from two Arizonans. The online application asks for examples of your leadership experience and community involvement. It also includes three essay questions. The essays explore leadership experience and Arizona public-policy decisions and issues.

All applications will be reviewed by a Selection Committee. The committee will identify a group of candidates to be invited to the Flinn Foundation for a personal interview during the week of January 21.

You may click here to begin the application.

Upon submission of your application portfolio, applicants should receive, within 24 hours (during the business week), an email message confirming receipt. Confirmations will not be sent over the weekend.

If you would like more information, have any questions, or do not receive an email confirmation after submitting an application, please contact AzCCL program manager Emily Rajakovich at erajakovich@flinn.org or 602-744-6828.