About the Program

This 14-week civic education program brings together local government leaders and community members to effect positive, sustainable change.

Participants receive mentorship, advocacy training, and network-building opportunities to create more empathetic leaders.

Our Why

When government ecosystems are hard to access, it can lead to lower trust, lower engagement, including lower voter turnout. Ultimately, these divides negatively impact the quality of life in growing communities.

The Civic Impact Academy builds bridges by bringing government leaders and community members into the same learning spaces.

This innovative model creates a dynamic environment for mutual learning, collaboration, advocacy, and professional development.

Our Goals

Learning Objectives

Improve civic knowledge and engagement skills of everyday residents and leaders.
Enhance the social impact leadership skills of public sector professionals.
Build the social capital of both groups to effect positive, sustained change in their communities.

Community Design Challenge

All participants complete the Community Design Challenge, an actionable project plan for improving the community in a focus area of their choosing. Building these capstone projects involves strategic planning, effective storytelling, and strategies to attract funding and community support. This capstone project is presented at our final session and serves as a launching point for future civic action outside the cohort.

Meet the Team

Christine Pitkin

Founder
Christine is a civic innovator and former local government professional. She founded Civility Localized in 2018 and Civic Impact Academy in 2024. Christine has a passion for empowering communities toward action. Christine earned her Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in Urban Management and Policy from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, and a Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Chiana Grant

Program Manager
Known for her attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and ability to deliver results, Chiana has a proven track record of successfully implementing and managing complex projects for clients across industries. Chiana’s expertise in information management systems and risk management make her a valuable asset to organizations looking to streamline processes and mitigate risk. Chiana studied Management Information Systems and Services at the University of South Carolina Upstate.
Dari Crawford

Assistant Program Manager
Dari brings more than a decade of hands-on experience in operations and organizational strategy. She specializes in streamlining processes, coordinating programs, and keeping complex projects on track. Known for her practical approach and problem-solving skills, Dari is passionate about building systems that work and ensuring leaders have the clarity and structure they need to focus on what matters most.

Reasons To Join

“I want to create value for people who need a voice.”
“I would love to make my business a tool for good!”
“I would like to build skills to help my community.”
“Building strong relationships is important to me.”
“I want to strengthen my ability to lead civic initiatives.”
“I want to take a more active approach in my local government.”
“I want to expand my impact to the policies and partnerships that shape our neighborhoods.”