Advancing Community Planning Goals
Building Local Workforce Capacity
Cultivating Career Opportunities for Future Civic Leaders

Meet CivicSpark

CivicSpark is an award-winning and evidence-based fellowship program that builds local workforce capacity to advance community planning priorities while launching the careers of young professionals.

The Fellowship

Each year, CivicSpark recruits 100+ emerging leaders who are interested in gaining skills and professional experience on local community planning issues, all while creating a meaningful and lasting impact in their community.

During the 11-month service year, CivicSpark Fellows will complete research, planning and implementation projects that support local governments and community organizations in advancing their community planning goals, priorities and initiatives.

Want to advance your career and make an impact in local communities?

Become a Fellow

Need help with a community planning project in your agency?

Host a Fellow

Building Capacity around

Parks & Outdoor Recreation

Our Impact

12 Years

of Building Local Workforce Capacity

1,250,000

Hours of Service

1,700

Community Events Hosted

3+ States

California, Colorado and Washington state. Additional states can apply!

110,000
Community Members Engaged

73%

of Alumni Still Work in
the Public Sector

300

Local Public
Agencies

1,000

Emerging Leaders

95%+

of Completed Projects Have
Met or Exceeded Expectations

Awards & Recognition
2024 Segal AmeriCorps Alums Segal Leadership Award | 2020 Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development – ZEVe- Award | 2018 Governor’s Volunteering & Service Award – Agency of the Year | 2017 Service Year Impact Award – Mid-Size Program

Organizations who participate in CivicSpark are 5 to 15 times more likely to achieve their project goals than organizations who don’t have a Fellow.

Learn More

This program is absolutely amazing. Our current CivicSpark Fellow Nabeeha Said is making an amazing contribution to our work at the intersection of public health and urban planning. I highly recommend it for any organization in need of top talent to serve for about 1 year at least.

Miguel A. Vazquez, FAICPUrban and Regional Planner, Riverside University Health System-Public Health

Looking ahead to my next chapter after CivicSpark, I feel prepared to enter any future professional space with more confidence and determination than ever before, along with some GIS and staff report writing skills!

Elizabeth Morris22-23 Fellow

CivicSpark provided a platform and space for me to explore my options for what I truly wanted to do with my passions and career. The program provided me with a deeper understanding of the inner workings of government, and opened numerous doors for me to further expand my environmental education and work experience. CivicSpark was sincerely a foundational experience for me as a young professional.

Angeline Foshay18-19 Fellow

Advancing Community Planning Goals Building Local Workforce Capacity Cultivating Career Opportunities for Future Civic Leaders