Civics Unplugged Programs

Training and Supporting Tomorrow's Leaders

Where Curiosity Ignites Change

Your journey starts here. Our flagship fellowship invites you to think beyond the conventional and reimagine what's possible. This fully remote, 8-week intensive program gathers 750 passionate young leaders each year from all 50 states and over 100 countries. Together, you'll explore groundbreaking approaches and ignite powerful solutions to drive civic innovation forward.

Learn More

Collapse

During your fellowship experience you will:

Dive deep into engaging case studies covering critical sectors including environmental justice, digital citizenship, and education.
Participate in interactive Skill Labs to build essential capabilities such as public speaking, project management, advocacy, and organizing.
Work collaboratively in small groups during our signature Solvathon initiative where you will directly address real-world issues through innovative problem-solving.
Develop your own comprehensive Case Brief focused on addressing a pressing challenge in your own community guided by mentors and industry experts.
Join a global network of civic innovators through our pod system, creating lasting connections with peers who share your passion for meaningful change.

The Fellowship runs twice yearly (February to April and September to November) and provides structured weekly lessons, supplementary skill-building sessions, and robust support, setting the stage for you to transition seamlessly into our advanced programs. Gain the foundational skills and connections needed to turn your visionary ideas into tangible, lasting impact.

Where Collaboration Takes Center Stage

Ready to take your impact to the next level? The Civic Innovation Academy is a one-week immersive experience for 25-75 graduates of the Fellowship who are eager to deepen their understanding of systems change, policy innovation, and place-based leadership. Held at prestigious university campuses across the U.S., the Academy offers hands-on learning experiences rooted in local challenges and driven by national and global relevance.

Collapse

Learn More

Each academy has a unique theme:

Georgetown University (Washington, D.C.): Engage in solving civic problems in the heart of our nation's capital.
UCLA (Los Angeles): Explore housing justice, climate action, and community-driven innovation with local leaders and impact-driven organizations.
Past innovation areas include climate change and digital rights, with more in development to reflect region-specific civic challenges and opportunities.
More locations in the works!

Academies bring together 25-75 Fellows in a focused, collaborative environment designed for deep growth. Through workshops, exploration, and community-building, you'll sharpen your systems thinking and accelerate your impact.

During a Civics Unplugged Academy you will participate in daily design challenges and civic simulations that mirror real-world policy-making and leadership scenarios. Each day includes immersive sessions with thought leaders and practitioners from government, nonprofit, and business sectors. With your peers, you will engage in group projects that culminate in powerful, peer-reviewed proposals for action. Finally, you will experience the power of place-based innovation through field visits and cultural exploration.

Only Civic Innovators Fellowship alumni can attend. Ready to build bold futures with a team of changemakers? This is your next step.

Where Commitment Creates Reality

If you're ready to bring bold ideas to life and build something that lasts across generations, the Civic Innovation Lab is your proving ground. As a Lab member, you will have access to the space, resources, and coaching to generate social impact and civic transformation. We will help you develop a civic tech platform to boost local government transparency, launch an initiative that drives voter engagement in underrepresented communities, build a community-run energy cooperative, or create a youth-powered urban planning initiative, and more! The Lab is designed to turn your vision into a fully operational, impact-first organization.

Collapse

Learn More

During your lab experience you will:

Work in tight-knit teams with ongoing support from the CU team, Board, and extended network.
Access capital, resources, and infrastructure to bring your ideas to life.
Share your progress across CU platforms and gain global visibility.
The opportunity to create lasting change, scale impact, and sustain your role in leading it.

Lab teams will co-design and co-own their ventures, exploring new models of governance, funding, and collaboration. If you're serious about making social good your life’s work, this is the place to prove what’s possible.

Your journey starts with the Fellowship. The destination? A world shaped by your leadership.

FAQs

Program Basics

How much does it cost to participate in CU programs?

All our programs are completely free! We believe that access to civic innovation opportunities shouldn't depend on financial resources.

What if I start a program and realize it's not for me?

Our programs are entirely opt-in, and you can choose to step away at any time. We want you to be here because you're passionate about creating change, not because you feel obligated.

Do I need to be a straight-A student or have previous leadership experience?

We do not ask for your grades or test scores on our application. We instead ask unique questions designed to assess your potential as a civic innovator.

Do you have a brief summary of your programs?

You bet! You can find that with our “Programs at a Glance” download.

I’m a CU alumni but I haven’t been receiving any updates

Are you a CU alumni and feeling out of the loop? Join our alumni Slack and email list—reach out to community@civicsunplugged.org to get connected!

Program Structure

Do you update your curriculum often?

Yes! Our curriculum is constantly evolving. We believe that civic innovation requires staying current with new developments, research, and ideas. We encourage all community members to share interesting findings and insights that could enhance our learning experience.

Can I participate if I'm not in the United States?

Yes! Our flagship Civic Innovators Fellowship is fully remote and open to students worldwide. While our Academy programs currently take place in U.S. locations, we welcome international fellows to apply if they can arrange travel.

How much time should I expect to commit each week?

For the Fellowship, plan to spend about 3-4 hours per week on main lessons, skill labs, and pod discussions. The Academy is an intensive week-long experience, and the Lab requires a more substantial time commitment that will be discussed with selected participants.

What kind of support will I receive throughout the programs?

You'll have access to mentorship, peer support through pods, and guidance from the CU team. However, we emphasize building your capacity to lead and solve problems independently. Think of us as your support system rather than your instruction manual.

I'm not sure if I'm "innovative enough" – should I still apply?

Absolutely! Innovation isn't a trait you're born with—it's a set of skills you can develop. Through our programs, you'll learn and practice the five core innovation skills in a supportive environment. Every great innovator started somewhere!

Program Philosophy

Will CU tell me what to think about political and social issues?

Nope. At Civics Unplugged, we don’t hand you answers, we help you ask better questions. Rooted in the Abundance Framework, our programs equip you with the tools, skills, and mindset to explore complex issues from multiple angles. We’re not here to push a party line, we’re here to help you build the critical thinking muscle to shape your own path, and lead with clarity, not conformity.

I notice you emphasize self-reliance. What does that mean in practice?

We believe in not doing for students what they can do for themselves. This means you'll be challenged to take initiative, make decisions, and lead projects. Our role is to guide and support, not to hand-hold. This approach helps develop real leadership skills and confidence.

How diverse is the CU community?

Diversity is central to our learning model. We actively build communities that bring together students from all 50 states and over 70 countries, representing different races, ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds, genders, school experiences, and political beliefs. This diversity of perspectives makes our discussions richer and our solutions stronger.

Ready to Change the World?

Training and Supporting Tomorrow's Leaders

Spotlight on Past Programs

Ready to Join us in Building an Abundance of Solutions?

FAQs

Program Basics

Program Structure

Program Philosophy

Stay in Touch