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Family & Youth Hosted A National Civic Engagement Training Institute

From Hawaii, New York, Washington, D.C., and many places in between…65 human service professionals gathered in Lake Charles to attend the Alliance Civic Engagement Training Institute (CETI) on September 22-24, 2009, at L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort in Lake Charles, La.
 

Audrey Jordan of the Annie E. Casey Foundation gave the keynote address on "authentic demand," the concept of giving voice to individuals whose lives stand to be most affected from change. George Pillsbury, founder and Senior Director of Strategy, Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network, and Ashley Herad, State Policy Director, Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations (LANO) presented on the importance of an accurate 2010 census for informed planning and policy development.  Representatives from Gulf Coast Funders, Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation, and the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation enlightened participants on their best approach to gain funding for civic engagement to fulfill their mission.

The Alliance Civic Engagement Training Institute gave participants the avenue to gain knowledge on how to incorporate civic engagement strategies into organizational plans, transform voices of community residents into influence, increase staff involvement, and be successful in civic engagement activities. 

Participants left empowered by the dynamics of the institute and had this to say:

• “The institute has helped me build my program around civic engagement from the ground up.”

• “I’m beginning a much more aggressive civic engagement program and was feeling overwhelmed and apprehensive. I feel I now have the tools for success.”

• “This was by far the best conference I have attended yet. The hospitality was great, food was superb, and the knowledge and skills that I have learned are priceless. I am eager to implement the tools that I have learned to bring about change in my community and agency.”

• "This was by far the best training I have attended in a long time. Great job.”

This was the second of two training institutes offered in 2009, and was hosted by Alliance member Family and Youth Counseling Agency in Lake Charles, La. View photos online.  

The Alliance for Children and Families, based in Milwaukee, WI, provides services to nonprofit child and family serving and economic empowerment organizations.  Motivated by a vision of a healthy society and strong communities, they work to strengthen America’s nonprofit sector and through advocacy to assure the sector’s continued independence.