INVST Community Leadership Program

The INVST Community Leadership Program (CLP) develops community leaders who engage in compassionate action as a lifetime commitment.

Each year, we admit up to 16 University of Colorado at Boulder students who are committed to making a positive difference with their lives. INVST CLP students are comprehensively trained by their exposure to varied learning opportunities over the course of two years. Specifically, students engage in two theory classes and two month-long Summer Service-Learning Experiences, one domestic and one international. In addition, students serve at least six hours each week with community-based organizations during their first-year internships, and collectively design, implement and evaluate community leadership projects during their second academic year.

Throughout the program, students critically reflect on concepts and theories in areas such as leadership, social change, democracy, nonviolence and sustainable development. In addition, they develop expertise such as meeting facilitation, inclusive decision-making, conflict resolution, fundraising, grant proposal writing, organizing, grassroots lobbying and public speaking. Students also participate with staff in policy making for the program through a consensus-based cross-generational Directors' Committee.  Together, students and staff determine curriculum design, hire and evaluate staff, and manage relationships with donors, among other things.