Montgomery County residents, including those in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, who want to learn how to shape local policy have until Friday to apply for a free eight-month training program run by the county's Community Action Board.
The Community Advocacy Institute, now in its 11th year, teaches participants how to work with elected officials, develop public testimony, conduct research and build advocacy strategies. The bilingual program operates in both English and Spanish.
Who's eligible
To qualify, applicants must live in Montgomery County and have a combined household income of $71,000 or less, according to the county's official program page. The program is free.
How the program works
The CAI runs from October 2026 through May 2027, with monthly workshops held both online and in person. Participants must attend all sessions and complete a community advocacy project to graduate.
Workshop topics include working with elected officials, storytelling, public speaking, developing testimony and advocacy strategies. Sessions are led by Community Action Board members and feature local advocates, elected officials and issue experts.
A decade of graduates
The county celebrated the program's 10th anniversary at a graduation ceremony on Monday, with 28 new graduates joining a network of 195 alumni. County Executive Marc Elrich said at the ceremony that the institute "helps residents build the skills and confidence" to speak up about issues in their communities.
Novlette Williamson, a 2026 graduate, said in a statement that the program "helped me turn my lived experiences into purposeful advocacy."
CAI alumni have gone on to serve on county advisory committees, nonprofit boards, and advocacy organizations, according to the county.
How to apply
The application deadline is Friday. Residents can apply online at surveymonkey.com/r/CAI2027. For more information, contact the Community Action Agency's Peter Sinclair at [email protected] or 301-309-7550.
The Community Action Board is the county's federally designated anti-poverty advisory group, housed within the Department of Health and Human Services.
Upcoming community dates
- Friday, July 24 — CAI application deadline
- October 2026 — CAI program begins
