Common Power Future, a Seattle-based pro-democracy civic organization, is now accepting applications for its Summer 2022 Action Academy program.  Action Academy launched in the summer of 2020 to great success. The program engages college-aged students in learning about voting rights and voting history in America and leads to concrete participation in national civic fieldwork. In addition, we provide a stipend to support participants devoting their time to this work.

Common Power Future

Common Power Future engages young people in the democratic process, with the goal of building next-generation leaders who can make a difference in our world. We are the college-aged part of the larger family of organizations, Common Power, which is a civic action organization committed to fighting for a just and inclusive democracy.  You can find out more at Common Power Future here.

Content in Summer 2022

This Summer, we will focus on voting rights in America, racial and gender history, meet civil rights leaders, learn the impact of gerrymandering and redlining, and what systems erode democracies. Participants will engage in a combination of action-learning activities, simulations, group discussions, team exercises, lectures, film and case studies, and training in civic fieldwork and GOTV efforts. The program will be led by a collection of next-generation leaders, including some Action Academy graduates. Program details are here. 

Participants will receive a $1,000 stipend upon completion of the program. 

Participants in the program will:

• Meet twice a week, with these goals:
  • To gain substantial understanding of voting rights and voting patterns for all Americans, especially women and minorities
  • To develop an understanding of the roots of the underrepresentation of women and BIPOC citizens in American electoral politics
  • To learn from mentors and role models about visionary leadership and civic action
  • To build out media literacy skills for the consumption of information
  • To undertake concrete engagement with elected officials and voters
  • To work with and build community in Crew teams 
• Engage in civic fieldwork and by volunteering with Common Power by participating in:
  • Registering new voters into the democratic process
  • Workshops and lectures
  • Training in Civic Fieldwork 
  • Action Academy Action Days
  • GOTV (Get Out The Vote) efforts
  • Be in state teams with Common Power’s 7 states of focus

We are committed to uplifting and building young diverse leaders including groups historically underrepresented due to race/ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, and/or ability. We strongly encourage members of underrepresented and marginalized communities to apply to the program.

• Individuals who are 18 years or older.
• Currently enrolled in secondary education (2 or 4-year) institution or have graduated from such institution within the last year.
• Individuals who are 18 years and are currently Senior in high school

• freshman
• sophomore
• junior
• senior

• US Citizen
• Permanent Resident
• International or Other Visa Status
• Undocumented

Apply online at https://cpfuture.org/. 

Expectations:

• All meetings and events will be held online via Zoom.
• Attend all Action Academy sessions as part of your commitment to the community.
• If participants are unable to attend any of the meetings, please contact the program director.
• There will be some additional activities outside of the weekly meetings.
• Create a short final project.

For any questions, please email Sasha Lee at sasha@commonpower.org  or at hello@cpfuture.org