The Academy for Local Leadership prepares and connects emerging community leaders to build stronger, more equitable public schools. We envision a democratically elected, effective, and anti-racist school board that partners with communities and district leaders to meet the needs of Chicago’s students and families, especially those furthest from opportunity.
Through our Fellowship Program, we prepare aspiring leaders to serve their communities. Through our Community Empowerment Program, we create intentional spaces for residents to learn about Chicago’s transition to an elected school board, giving community members the opportunity to draft shared priorities for the education of Chicago’s young people. This work connects communities to decision-making processes while strengthening local leadership pipelines.
What We Offer
Board 101 Workshop
A one-time session designed to help community members understand the role of the newly elected CPS Board and what board governance means for local neighborhoods.
Governance & Management Series
Offered as a stand-alone workshop or a three-part series, this experience helps communities understand the difference between governance and day-to-day management, build advocacy skills, and learn how to hold board members accountable.
Dedication to Inclusivity
Each engagement includes facilitation in English or Spanish, with translation into other languages upon request
Our Impact
Skills & Knowledge
Training on governance, data use, and community advocacy.
Tools & Systems
Support for tracking and using student outcome data to inform community priorities.
Resources & networks
Connections to partner organizations, student leaders, and peer learning networks.Leadership development
Building confidence and pathways for future leaders, including Fellows and alumni.
Goal
To ensure each of Chicago’s 20 elected school board districts can come together to articulate a shared community vision and set of educational goals—strengthening accountability between residents and their elected school board representative.
Expected Outcomes
Stronger Community Voice
Each of Chicago’s 20 school board districts develops a clearly defined community vision and set of priorities, empowering residents to hold their elected board members accountable for results.
Informed Voters
Community members gain a deeper understanding of how candidates and elected board members align with district priorities, leading to more informed civic participation and clearer connections between board actions and student outcomes—both locally and citywide.
Increased Accountability
Elected board members receive a clear, community-informed mandate grounded in public data and the CPS strategic plan, fostering greater transparency and accountability in governance and decision-making.
Measuring Success
We believe accountability matters.
We measure success through:
1
The number and diversity of participants, including parents, students, and educators
2
Community visions and priorities co-created in each target district
3
Public Community Summary Reports shared back with residents and board members
How We Do It
Our Work is Grounded in Four Guiding Pillars
Trust-Based Relationships
Building authentic, consistent connections with parents, students, CPS staff, and community-based organizations.
Inclusive Facilitation
Creating bilingual and culturally responsive spaces that value lived experience.
Targeted Outreach
Engaging individuals and groups who are often excluded from decision-making spaces.
Data-informed action
Partnering with organizations such as To&Through to support community-driven priorities grounded in student outcome data.
Resources
We aim to make it easy for residents and partners to learn more, connect, and take action:
Find Your Board District
Use this Map Tool to enter your address and identify your school board district.
Partner with Us
By co-hosting a Community Empowerment engagement, your organization becomes a trusted community partner, helping ensure voices that are too often left out are heard and included in decision-making.
To learn more or explore partnership opportunities, email carolina@localleadership.org.