🚉 EVERY JOURNEY STARTS SOMEWHERE.

A first idea. A question about the world. A desire to make something better.

For young people, these can be the beginnings of something extraordinary. But knowing how to turn that spark into meaningful change takes guidance, practice, and a chance to lead.

That's where Civic Leadership Foundation (CLF) comes in.

Through hands on, project-based learning, CLF helps young people explore the issues they care about, collaborate with others, and turn their ideas into projects that make a difference in their communities.

🛤️ THE ROUTE TO LEADERSHIP

No two journeys look exactly alike. Along the way, young people discover their strengths, learn to navigate challenges, and realize that their voices belong in shaping the world around them.

With CLF, the classroom becomes a starting point for real world change. Young people move beyond learning about their communities to finding ways to make them better.

And the journey doesn't stop when a project ends. The skills and confidence they build can help shape how they participate, lead, and contribute for years to come.

🎟️ HELP KEEP THE TRAIN RUNNING

Every train needs fuel to keep moving. For CLF, that fuel is you.

Our programs are free for the schools and community partners we work with, from North Lawndale and Englewood to Evanston and beyond. Your gift is what makes that possible.

Your contribution helps us:

Bring our program to more young people in classrooms across Chicagoland and beyond.
Connect students with local changemakers to inspire and show what leadership looks like in action.
Train and equip facilitators to guide youth.
Offer ongoing teacher and school support.
Organize celebrations and showcases where youth present their impact to the community.

Your generosity helps sustain this work, strengthen our programs, and expand opportunities for young people.

🚦 WHERE DOES THE LINE GO FROM HERE?

Right now, somewhere in Chicago, there’s a young person who has noticed something they want to change in their community. They already have an idea to fix it. What they don’t have yet is the tools, the guidance, and someone who believes they can pull it off.

Your gift gives them all three, along with a full year to discover they’re a leader.

“Just give us a voice,” one seventh grader told us. “Let us speak on what’s right.”

Their next stop isn’t somewhere we drop them off. It’s a future of possibility they build themselves.

Give today and help them get there!

Next Stop. Building a Future of Possibility for Our Youth.

Your gift pays the fare so young people can grow into the next generation of civic leaders.