Community Leadership Program
Program Description
Guided by our Ignatian values and the Social Change Model of leadership development, the Community Leadership Program (CLP) is a year-long program for up to ten (10) second and third-year students at the University of San Francisco starting Fall 2024. The program is rooted in the Jesuit values of being people for and with others, meaning we take time to shift focus, notice others, and care about them. The Community Leaders will develop leadership skills through workshops and coaching, active service at local charities and nonprofits, and a culminating project that inspires peers to join them in acts of service. The goal of CLP is to provide an experiential leadership opportunity for college students with financial needs.
Program participants will be awarded a $5,000 scholarship for the 2024–25 Academic Term beginning with a $2,500 scholarship in the Fall semester and another $2,500 at the beginning of the Spring semester.
This pilot program is made possible by a generous gift from Christopher Leung & Priscilla Lee.
Key Program Components
- Formative program orientation for skill building with Community Engaged Learning (CEL) values in action, Emotional Intelligence (EQ), and project management
- Engage in monthly cohort service projects with our Nonprofit partners, like City Hope
- Perform at least 40 hours of service with a nonprofit between September–April
- Develop and coordinate a volunteer service fair that brings together local nonprofits and USF students to learn about volunteer and other leadership opportunities
- One-on-one professional coaching with socially responsible leadership values, EQ, and talent development with CliftonStrengths
Eligibility
- Sophomore/junior preferred status during the 2024-25 academic term
- Must be eligible for financial aid
- Must be enrolled for the full 2024-25 Academic Term and take classes at the Hilltop Campus for Fall & Spring
- Must be in good academic and conduct standing and remain so throughout the year while maintaining a minimum GPA of 2.0
2024-25 Program Components
| Date | Time | Title | Location |
| Friday, August 16 | 5:30–7:30 p.m. | Cohort Meet & Greet Dinner | City Hope & USF Hilltop Campus |
| Saturday, August 17 | 7 a.m.–4 p.m. | Program Orientation | City Hope |
| Saturday, September 14 | 7–11 a.m. | Cohort Breakfast Service Project | City Hope |
| Saturday, October 12 | 7–11 a.m. | Cohort Breakfast Service Project | City Hope |
| Saturday, November 9 | TBD | Cohort Service Project | TBD |
| Saturday, January 25 | 7–11 a.m. | Cohort Breakfast Service Project | City Hope |
| Saturday, February 22 | 7–11 a.m. | Cohort Breakfast Service Project | City Hope |
| Saturday, March 29 | 7–11 a.m. | Cohort Breakfast Service Project | City Hope |
| Monday, May 5 | 7–8:30 p.m. | Change Institute Celebration | Xavier Auditorium, Fromm |
Other components
- Individual Coaching (1 hour each semester)
- Nonprofit service (40 hours between September–April)
- Assist in the planning and coordination of a volunteer service fair at the Hilltop Campus
2024 Recruitment Timeline:
- Applications open: Wednesday, June 19
- Applications due: Wednesday, July 10 by 11:59 p.m.
- Program Offers: Wednesday, July 24 by 5 p.m.
- Cohort Meet & Greet Dinner: Friday, August 16 from 5:30–7:30 p.m.
- Fall Orientation: Saturday, August 17 from 7 a.m.–4 p.m.
Apply Starting Wednesday, June 19
What We’re Looking For
- Interest in developing/sustaining relationships with community organizations serving underserved populations in San Francisco
- Desire to connect and learn from community members and leaders
- Passion to become a community leader on campus and in the San Francisco community
- Determination to engage peers in service-based projects and commit to the full length of the program