Professional Development

This page is for current and past CLEC AmeriCorps members looking for professional development opportunities and upcoming events.

The Basics

  • AmeriCorps members may spend up to 20% of their term of service fulfilling hours related to professional development.

  • Professional development hours must be approved by the site supervisor in advance and may not interfere with the member's ability to complete direct service. 

  • Members may not receive compensation for completing professional development.

Current Opportunities

A PDF version of state-wide events available here. These are facilitated by WACC, and feature unique topics with engaging speakers!

Other opportunities available in a PDF, located in each monthly tab. This PDF is also linked in the newsletter.

  • Welcome to AmeriCorps

    Wednesday, September 25th, 2024: 3:30-5pm PDT // REGISTER HERE

    Welcome aboard! AmeriCorps service is different from anything you have done before. In this workshop you will learn more about the history of AmeriCorps, the expectations of all AmeriCorps members, and a few key tips to ensure that you have a successful term of service.

    Professional Development Monthly PDF - September

    Here is a collection of professional development events offered during the month of September in all focus areas.

  • Creating Connections & a Community of Practice

    Thursday, October 17th, 2024: 5-6pm PDT // REGISTER HERE

    A Community of Practice is a group of people who share a common concern or a set of problems who come together to fulfill group and individual goals. Come connect with other AmeriCorps members and fellows across the state and experience a design clinic to brainstorm problem-solving as a group! This session is a great opportunity to establish a community of support as our program year kicks off.

  • Understanding Emotional Intelligence & Equity

    Tuesday, November 12th, 2024: 5-6pm PDT // REGISTER HERE

    What is emotional intelligence? Why is it important and how does it overlap with equity work? How can it help you navigate your service project and in the future? Learn how emotional intelligence is vital to successful equitable workspaces and projects.

    FALL SYMPOSIUM: Cultivating Inclusive Communities

    Thursday, November 21st, 2024: 5-7pm PDT // REGISTER HERE

    Join our first symposium to reflect on what it means to be inclusive in your service, and how to foster mutual respect and trust to establish a strong foundation for community bonds. After hearing from several speakers about their experiences cultivating inclusive communities, we will discuss barriers to inclusivity and potential solutions in small groups. There will be time for sharing out and Q & A.

  • Collaborating Across Disciplines to Solve Community Problems

    Thursday, December 5th, 2024: 5-6pm PDT // REGISTER HERE

    Do you want to solve community problems, but worry that you don’t have all the expertise you need to get your ideas off the ground? Now more than ever, solving urgent community problems requires working across academic and professional disciplines. This session will explore some examples of cross-disciplinary collaboration, what some challenges might be, and the benefits of pursuing an interdisciplinary approach.

  • How to Start a Grassroots Organization

    Tuesday, January 14th, 2025: 5-6pm PDT // REGISTER HERE

    What is a grassroots organization and what does it take to start one? Learn how to inspire collective action from the local level to implement concrete change in your community. This session will dive into what it takes to set up a grassroots organization from a legal standpoint, how to secure funding, how to garner community support, and more.

  • Workshop: How to Promote Community Needs with Elected Officials 

    Thursday, February 6th, 5-6pm PDT // REGISTER HERE 

    There are many different steps we can take to create change in our communities. One is to become civically engaged – without holding office! We will explore how to reach out to your elected officials and learn tips for how you can effectively champion your community’s needs.   

    Note for AmeriCorps Members: This session is not about attempting to influence legislation or engaging in partisan political activities. See the Prohibited Activities section in your Member Service Agreement for more information. 

    WINTER SYMPOSIUM: Advocating for Change - Social Justice in Action

    Saturday, February 22nd, 2025: 10am-12pm PDT // REGISTER HERE

    This symposium will feature influential speakers and their personal experiences confronting social injustices in their communities. We will learn what it takes to push through adversity and make real-world differences. This session will inspire and empower you to recognize the power you hold in your personal and professional networks, education, and lived experiences, all of which contribute to your ability to create lasting change.

  • Networking - More Than LinkedIn 

    Tuesday, March 11th, 2025: 5-6pm PDT// REGISTER HERE

    Want to learn how to make connections in your field but don’t know where to start? This interactive workshop aims to help prepare AmeriCorps members and Student Civic Fellows for the Continuums of Service Conference later this month, or whatever networking opportunities come your way. We will practice networking skills and tactics to help you connect with the contacts you want – and the ones you didn’t know you needed!  

    CONTINUUMS OF SERVICE CONFERENCE 

    Wednesday–Friday, March 26th-28th, 2025, Seattle University // REGISTER HERE

    Join us for the 2025 Continuums of Service Conference! The theme of this IN-PERSON regional event is “Higher Education: Honoring our Connections to Place and Indigenous Communities.” In this gathering, we will seek to explore ways that higher education honors place and Indigenous history, builds partnerships, values diverse knowledge, and creates more welcoming environments for Indigenous and other diverse students, faculty, and staff. Space is limited. Financial assistance will be available to WACC-member campuses to support student or AmeriCorps member attendance. Application for financial assistance will be available in November. 

  • How to Stay Passionate Without Wearing Yourself Out - The Essence of Project Management 

    Thursday, April 17th, 2025: 5-6pm PDT // REGISTER HERE

    Feeling stressed and burned out, but still feeling the pull to serve your community? In this workshop, we will break down the basics of sustainably planning projects, staying within time and budget constraints, maintaining self-care, and how to scale up your projects – when you have capacity. 

  • Communicating for the Public Good - Making the Case for Social Change

    Tuesday, May 20th, 2025: 5-6pm PDT // REGISTER HERE

    What’s your elevator pitch about your service project and the issues that most concern you? Can you concisely explain to someone what you’re working on and why you’re so passionate about it? Effective communication doesn’t have to be complicated! This session aims to demystify how to communicate complex information and build support for the issues you care about. It will also help prepare members to present at the Student Success Panel at the end of May. Please plan to attend if you would like to present on your service project.

    SPRING SYMPOSIUM: Student Success Panel

    Thursday, May 29th, 2025: 4-6pm PDT // REGISTER HERE

    Come celebrate your success and present your service project to our AmeriCorps and Student Civic Fellows community! Our final symposium will feature student presentations to share the incredible service that has been completed over the past year and offers AmeriCorps members and fellows an opportunity to practice their public speaking skills in a supportive space. We will select a panel of students or members to present, so please contact us if you are interested. All community members are invited!  

Archive

Click on each tab to view past professional development opportunities.

Resources by Focus Area

These resources are directly related to the CLEC AmeriCorps focus areas and include a range of videos, podcasts, and more to aid learning. They are open to all members regardless of their position’s focus area.

Resources by Topic

These resources are self-paced and organized by topic and include a range of articles, videos, podcasts, and more to aid learning and professional development.

Upcoming Events

CLEC Calendar

Check the CLEC Calendar of Key Dates regularly for updates on upcoming events for members.

Questions?

Contact Emma Magnuson, AmeriCorps Member Engagement Coordinator: magnuse3@wwu.edu