Apply! Wilder's Advocacy Leadership Intensive 2026!

Apply! Wilder's Advocacy Leadership Intensive 2026!

Formerly known as the Community Equity Crash Course
Wilder's New Advocacy Leadership Intensive

Wilder’s Advocacy Leadership Intensive (ALI), formerly The Community Equity Crash Course, is back! - This 4 session, meeting the first four Mondays in June, intensive, political, and advocacy leadership program is designed for advocates, allies, community members, and those just interested in getting a high-level understanding of the Minnesota legislative process. The program equips participants with the necessary tools to engage meaningfully with the Minnesota legislative process and ensure that Capitol policies reflect their needs and those of their community. ALI is a condensed version of Wilder's Community Equity Program (CEP), whose graduates have gone on to become legislators, mayors, campaign organizers, non-profit leaders, and powerful advocates. ALI is ideal for individuals who cannot commit to the 7-month program required for CEP. No experience is required, but even those with intermediate experience in legislative advocacy will gain valuable skills and connections.

Who Is This For?
Emerging advocates, community leaders, nonprofit professionals, grassroots organizers, policy-interested residents, individuals directly impacted by state policy, anyone who wants to better understand how Minnesota laws are shaped. To apply, applicants must:
- Be 18 years of age or older by June 1st, 2026.
- Reside in the Twin Cities metro area - Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington counties. This program will be in-person.
- Have an interest and commitment to impacting state-level legislative policy in Minnesota.
- Be committed and available to attend all of the scheduled cohort meetings.
What Will You Gain?
By the end of the program, you will:
- Understand where and how to intervene in the legislative process.
- Know how to prepare for meetings with policymakers.
- Feel confident navigating Capitol systems.
- Build lasting relationships with fellow advocates.
- Be prepared to take your next step in advocacy leadership.
What does the commitment look like?

Program participants should expect to spend about 20 hours throughtout the month of June on ALI activities. Cohort members should expect to spend time on the following:
- 2.5-hour cohort educational sessions every Monday from 5:30pm - 8:00pm during the month of June (exact program dates are below and are not subject to change)
- 5-6 hours total spent on individual assignments outside of session
- 2-3 hour(s) for a social gathering
Program Format: This program will take place in person at the Wilder Center - 451 Lexington Pkwy N, St Paul, MN 55104.

Sessions are held Mondays in June from 5:30–8:00 p.m.
June 1, 2026 – Session 1: Government Structures
June 8, 2026 – Session 2: Legislative Timelines
June 15, 2026 – Session 3: Bill Process
June 22, 2026 – Session 4: Legislative Meetings & Testifying

* Saturday June 27, 2026 – Alumni BBQ*

Have questions or need assistance?

JotForm supports standard input mechanisms such as user-provided keyboards, screen readers, and pointing devices. If you are having difficulty viewing and filling out this form or if you have any additional questions that would help you with submitting your application, please contact our team at cep@wilder.org. We're here to help :)

Other Opportunities: The Community Equity Program (CEP) is a longer version of the ALI . This 7-month immersive political leadership program brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds who want to get involved in Minnesota’s legislative policy and fight for change in their communities. Led by a BIPOC team, CEP provides participants with a cohort experience along with knowledge and tools to: advocate and advance state-level legislation, engage with policymakers, question existing systems of power, create space for dreaming, and ultimately, build community power and solidarity to advance justice at the Capitol. The application opens early May.

Check out our website for more information

https://www.wilder.org/civic-engagement-programs/
Name*

First NameLast Name
Preferred Name
Personal Email (something that likely won't change over time)*
example@example.com
Cell Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.Format: (000) 000-0000.
Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
They/Them/TheirsShe/HerHe/HimEnter Your Own
YesNo
What organization are you affiliated with?
Yes, currentlyYes, in the pastNo, neverI prefer not to answer
Elementary SchoolMiddle SchoolCurrently Working on a High School Diploma/GEDWorking towards an AssociatesCompleted Associates DegreeWorking towards a Bachelors DegreeCompleted a Bachelors DegreeWorking towards a Masters DegreeCompleted a Masters DegreeWorking Towards DoctorateCompleted PhD/DoctorateCurrently in Trade SchoolCompleted Trade SchoolEnter your own
YesNoEnter your own
Faith/Religious/Spritual Affiliation (optional)
YesNoOther
No, this is my first time applying for oneI've applied to other, but have not participatedYes, I've applied and participated in another political leadership program
If yes, which program(s)?
Facebook AdInstagram AdLinkedIn AdSomeone shared on their social mediaWilder's internal newsletterWilder's WebsiteAnother Wilder ProgramGoogle SearchOther
- More About You!
- Bio - tell us about yourself! Feel free to copy a pre-made bio but if you don't have one and don't know where to start, here are a few questions that could help you: Who are you? Where do you call home? What are you passionate about? What communities hold and support you? What is something you've done that you're proud of? What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? (word limit: 250)*
  This does not have to be a formal and fancy bio if you don't have one.
- Why are you interested in joining the ALI? What do you hope to learn in this program?*
- Are there any particular topics you'd like to learn or explore in ALI?*
- We want to make sure that folks feel supported in having their needs met so that you can bring your full self to ALI. Everyone has their own learning style and needs in order to be able to have the most impactful experience and we want to honor that. Currently, we are aware of and can offer the following to those who note a need: transportation assistance to/from sessions (Uber/Lyft), dietary accommodations, microphones, prayer room, lactation room, gender-neutral bathroom, and breaks during sessions.
- What do you need to show up as your full self? Is there anything that we missed from the listed accommodations above that we could provide to help support you?*
- Our staff care deeply about supporting and uplifting you. We are living through difficult times and we understand that everyone is processing things in different ways. That said, this program is completely voluntary and could take up about 3-5 hours of your time per week. None of us can be everywhere all the time, and the collective experience is negatively impacted when cohort members are not present. If you are feeling stressed about your current/future workload or work/life balance (spiritual, emotional, mental capacity), if you feel like you may have competing meetings, programs, or other demands during program times - we strongly encourage you to take care of yourself and consider applying for another cohort year. It is important for us as facilitators to know that our program participants have not only the passion and willingness to join ALI, but also the time and capacity to fully participate.
- YesNoI'm not sureOther
- Do you foresee any issues/scheduling conflicts that would keep you from attending all of cohort sessions or completing additional requirements of this program? Please explain.*
- Policy Experience
  
  We don't require a minimum amount of knowledge of the MN legislative process or policy in general in order to participate. We just want to see where folks are at in this work.
- Where are you personally in your political journey? What draws you to political work? What role do you/would you like to see yourself in advancing justice?*
- What experience do you have with the MN state legislative process, if any?
  A lack of experience is not a barrier to program entry. We just want to know where you're at.
- What experience do you have with other levels of advocacy/government/politics, if any? (ex. federal, county, city, park board, neighborhood, student government, etc.)
  A lack of experience is not a barrier to program entry. We just want to know where you're at.
- Tell us about an issue you are passionate about and a solution to that issue you would like to see implemented. Why are you passionate about this issue? What connects you to this work?
- Served in an elected seat of office (federal, state, county, city, or park board) - this does not include boards, commissions, advisory committees, etc.Worked as a registered lobbyistRan for an elected seat of office at the state levelRan for an elected seat of office at another level of governance (federal, county, city, etc.)Served as a primary staff/contractor (paid) for a state policy campaignVolunteered for a state policy/electoral campaignMet 1:1 with legislators with a specific askHeld a leadership role in advocacy coalitionsDeveloped/drafted bill languageSecured chief authors for a billProvided public testimony on a billParticipated in advocacy coalitionsAttended an advocacy day/eventVisited the MN state capitolNone of the above - I'm new to this!
Should be Empty:

Apply! Wilder's Advocacy Leadership Intensive 2026!

More About You!