Community Action needs you to lead us into the future.
Community Action needs strong leaders at every level. Not someday. Now.
This program is built for emerging leaders who are ready to better understand themselves, strengthen the way they work with others, and grow into the kind of leadership Community Action needs for the future.
What is The Leadership CAAP Program?10 Months of Learning.
A Lifetime of Leadership.
This program is designed for emerging leaders in Community Action. It blends in-person and virtual learning to build self-aware, confident leaders equipped to navigate change, strengthen culture, and advance the mission of Community Action.
Participants will deepen their understanding of Community Action leadership through assessments, facilitated discussions, practical skill application, and personal reflection, culminating in graduation at the annual CAAP Summit.
The next generation of leaders starts here.
Participants will explore what it means to lead in a mission-driven environment while building practical skills in communication, change leadership, team culture, and self-awareness. Through a mix of in-person sessions, virtual learning, assessments, guided discussion, and reflection, they’ll gain tools they can use immediately in their agencies.
This is a growth experience designed to help participants lead with more clarity, confidence, and connection.
The program concludes with graduation at the annual CAAP Summit, recognizing participants as part of the next generation of Community Action leaders.
Full Program StructureSupport.
Coaching.
Impact.
Each session will focus on a different key area of Community Action Leadership and will include activities to be completed between sessions.
Seven of these Monthly trainings will be virtual, with three of them being in person over the course of this 10-month program.
Monthly Training
Each lesson is designed to equip you with useful strategies you can immediately put into action. It’s about learning with purpose and seeing real results.
Seven 2-Hour Virtual Sessions
In-Person days are vital for strengthening relationships and trust across the cohort, which will foster growth within the community.
The current in-person dates are slated for August 2026, October 2026, and May 2027.
Three In-Person Days
We are bringing together a slate of instructors with real-world experience to help you progress quickly in your leadership capacity, including subject-matter experts, CAAP board members, and CAAP leadership.
Expert Instructors
Each participant will be paired with a Coach who will serve as a mentor and support throughout The Leadership CAAP. There will be regularly scheduled Coach calls for participants to learn directly from experienced, seasoned CAAP leaders.
Personal Coaching
Participants will complete a CAAPstone Project that applies skills they learned throughout the course to their work. These projects will be presented at the CAAP Summit as a Poster Session, where they share what they learned, how it was implemented, and the results.
CAAPstone Project
Per Person
$950.00
This program focuses on practical tools you can apply directly to your work.
Applicants for 2026-2027 will only be accepted through June 5, 2026 at 5 p.m.
Program Topics
What makes a good leader?
Advocacy
Board Relations
Change Management
Community Action 101
Continuous Improvement
Cultivating Productive Teams
Data
Marketing
Organizational Standards
Perceptive Communication
Rising to Leader
Stakeholder Engagement
Storytelling
StrengthFinders
Workplace Culture
FAQYou have questions.
We’ve got answers.
-
The Leadership CAAP is designed for non C-suite individuals who are already serving in some form of leadership role and are ready to continue growing their leadership capacity. This may include supervisors, managers, department heads, program leaders, coordinators, or staff members who are actively leading people, projects, initiatives, or teams within their agency.
-
In addition to your one-to-one assigned coach, an online forum will be available for collaboration and peer support.
-
Participants will become part of a new, supportive community of leaders across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. They will build lasting relationships with peers who share a commitment to strengthening Community Action throughout the 10-month experience. Participants will automatically become members of The Leadership CAAP Alumni Network upon graduation. This network helps ensure that graduates remain connected, supported, and empowered to continue growing their leadership capacity and advancing Community Action's statewide impact.
-
Yes! We value and encourage fully committing to participating if you intend to move into leadership. But we know that life happens. Participants may miss up to one in-person and one virtual session without affecting their ability to graduate.
-
Since The Leadership CAAP values real-world skills and applications, your CAAPstone Project will apply the skills you learned throughout the course to your work.
These projects will then be presented at the CAAP Summit as a Poster Session, where they share what they learned, how it was implemented, and the results.
-
Please email info@thecaap.org. We would be happy to answer your questions!
Leadership CAAP Alumni Network
From Program to Peer Network
No leader should have to grow alone.
The Leadership CAAP connects participants with a statewide community of peers who understand the work, the mission, and the moment Community Action is navigating.
That connection continues after graduation through The Leadership CAAP Alumni Network. Graduates automatically become part of this growing community, helping them stay connected, supported, and encouraged as they continue strengthening their leadership and advancing the impact of Community Action across the Commonwealth.
