Civic Leadership & Engagement Corps

Program Overview

Civic Leadership & Engagement Corps (CLEC) is an AmeriCorps program through Washington Campus Coalition for the Public Good (WACC) that believes all students should be empowered with the skills and resources to thrive in school and beyond to become the compassionate leaders and engaged citizens of tomorrow.

“Empowering tomorrow’s compassionate leaders and engaged citizens through service throughout Washington and Idaho.”

CLEC fosters student leadership, campus-community partnerships, civic and community engagement, and knowledge networks focused on improving the retention and success of underrepresented students, increasing awareness and support for equity and inclusion, and building sustainable campus/community partnerships and resilient communities.

Focus Areas & Activities

  • Academic Engagement

    WACC is supporting students across Washington state through academic coaching, support services coaching, student navigation, workforce development and service-learning opportunities.

  • Medical & Mental Health

    Our members have worked tirelessly to provide mental health access for Washington’s most vulnerable communities. We’ve seen students integrate their educational and professional experiences to offer mental health services and develop first-hand experience working on this critical issue.

  • Housing and Food Security

    WACC is supporting student and program-led efforts to feed and house the most vulnerable communities in our state. Through our CLEC program and bold efforts from our Student Civic Leadership Fellows, we are creating healthier futures for our neighbors and communities.

  • Environmental Stewardship

    Now more than ever we must leverage community and higher educational resources to preserve and protect the environment and create a more sustainable future for those who come after us. Our members are heavily involved in community-based projects focused on environmental justice, ecological preservation, and sustainability.

Success Stories

  • “Student support = Community Support. By supporting students we are supporting integral members of our community by being there during some of their greatest times of need and helping to lift them up when they are at a perceived low. I serve to re-frame situations and present them in new ways to assist those in need to ‘see things differently.’ By doing this, they are able to manage and navigate situations they wouldn't have thought they could prior. Serving in this program has helped improve our campus as well as our community.”

    — Tacoma Community College | 2023

  • “I have been able to provide mental health services to a significantly large amount of individuals who would not have care otherwise. I've gained so many skills and feel like I'll be leaving this experience ready to do more mental health work for underserved communities. I'm also proud of my MLK week presentation and my service to get the prison's TBI treatment program up and running. I am definitely more service-oriented in my career goals. When I think about what to do next, I now think about how it will impact the community I'll be doing the work in. I also feel better able to communicate and manage my emotions.”

    — Antioch University | 2023

  • “I have greatly improved my speaking and leadership skills as well talking to large groups about tool safety, invasive vs. native species, and site specific information. It has been beneficial partnering with other environmental and ecological restoration groups to improve my confidence in group leadership and restoration skills. My service showed me that a career in ecological restoration and community leadership is something I would like to pursue.”

    — Bellingham Parks Department Volunteer Program / WWU | 2023

For questions about the CLEC AmeriCorps program, please contact:

Amy Brown (she/her)
AmeriCorps Program Director
amy.brown@wwu.edu