Celebrating Cohort 9 of the Washington County Civic Leaders Program
Since 2018, Adelante Mujeres has partnered with Washington County to launch the Washington County Civic Leaders Program, and the response has been incredible. Over the years, 161 leaders from various backgrounds across the county have proudly graduated from this program, showcasing the strength of community interest and involvement.
The Civic Leaders Program is designed to empower the Latine community, immigrants, and others from historically and currently marginalized groups. Participants engage in a comprehensive 10-session leadership training that addresses vital community issues like Civic Engagement, Testimony, Community Participation and Organization, and County Services.
In previous years, the trainings were conducted in English, supplemented by interpretation in other languages. However, in 2023, we made a pivotal change. To stay aligned with our mission at Adelante Mujeres and to better serve Latinas and their families, we switched to offering the sessions in Spanish while still providing interpretation. This adjustment has significantly boosted participation from Spanish-speaking community members, allowing them to engage with the material in their native language. The result has been a deeper connection among peers and a richer learning experience.
Here’s a snapshot of the program’s key objectives:
Create Opportunities: Participants can emerge from the training as certified leaders through Washington County and Adelante Mujeres, ready to make a difference.
Access Resources: We aim to demystify government roles and services in Washington County, encouraging active participation post-training.
Foster a Learning Environment: Using Popular Education methods, the program addresses leadership, advocacy, and community organizing.
Support Ongoing Growth: Participants are encouraged to pursue further training opportunities both with the County and within Adelante Mujeres.
Civic Leaders acquire knowledge as a part of a path to professional growth and community involvement. Graduates are encouraged to engage within various levels of government, and many have successfully joined committees, landed jobs in government or nonprofit organizations, or even pursued board positions in local governance. Others continue to deepen their expertise by participating in local campaigns and leadership events.
As we celebrate the graduation of the ninth cohort of Washington County Civic Leaders in 2025 (our third cohort taught in Spanish) we want to acknowledge the dedication and enthusiasm our participants have shown in learning about the various committees and departments within Washington County. Their commitment to becoming Civic Leaders will empower them to advocate for solutions that benefit everyone in our community.
Congratulations, Cohort 9! Thank you for your leadership and active involvement!
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a Washington County Civic Leader, please reach out via email at: LeadershipandAdvocacy@adelantemujeres.org for further details. We’ll also make sure to keep you updated on registration for the next training!