People For the American Way Foundation

FLLA provides values-based training to young people seeking social change with a vision to create a system of truly representative government that gives voice for youth and marginalized communities.

Building on the success of the first of a two-year pilot, we’ll recruit a second group of young people from LA County – those underrepresented in local public leadership, such as young women, young people of color, and LGBTQ youth – and train them using the Front Line Leaders Academy’s leadership development model to take on greater civic participation roles. We’ll also provide support to the first cohort of young leaders trained last year as they continue community service.

The Front Line Leaders Academy (FLLA) is a program of People For the American Way Foundation, a nonpartisan educational organization founded in 1981 to promote and defend the American values of liberty and equality for all, and to ensure that the promises enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are made real for all members of our pluralistic society. As part of PFAW Foundation’s youth leadership programs, FLLA is an advanced leadership training program that bridges the gap between Young People For, our program for training campus leaders and the Young Elected Officials Network, our nonpartisan network of progressive young electeds. FLLA specifically addresses the growing demand to engage, equip, and empower young progressives (18-35) with the skills and strategies to move into positions of local leadership and to support them as they prepare for involvement in local campaigns within their communities. We propose, in response to the My LA2050 challenge, to implement a Los Angeles-based Front Line Leaders Academy for 20 young, emerging leaders from low income, LGBTQ and communities of color in Los Angeles County. For six months these fellows will participate in trainings on a wide range of leadership development and political skills, including how to be an effective candidate, campaign management, finance, communications, and field organizing. The 20 young leaders will be recruited by Young People For in May for the LA-based Front Line Leaders Academy. Then, from June through December 2013, these FLLA fellows will participate in a series of workshops led by campaign experts, along with members of the Young Elected Officials Network. Motivated by their strong will for public service, fellows will work with these young elected officials and campaign experts during four three-day convenings, conference calls, online trainings, and in one-on-one sessions aimed at monitoring the progress of each fellow. By graduation, FLLA fellows will have developed a wide range of campaign skills, and will have compiled a complete campaign book that will enable them to be effective local leaders. Through their participation in the LA-based Front Line Leaders Academy, these 20 youth will be educated on progressive issues, including civic engagement, and connected to each other, asked to participate civically, provided with role models who are civically engaged, and encouraged to network with others and discuss their experiences with others. Curriculum for the trainings will include public speaking, building personal narrative, base-building, message development, and management. In addition, we will identify LA-based campaign experts and community partners to offer sessions on best practices and lessons learned in local work on education, civic participation, the environment, and health, among others. The Front Line Leaders Academy was launched in 2006 by PFAW Foundation and trains 20 emerging leaders each year. The Academy is responsible for launching the careers of over 100 civic participants, many of whom have run for public office or served in some capacity on political campaigns or community organizing. These young leaders are providing a vital infusion of ideas, energy, and passion to the progressive community, and their commitment to continued activism and leadership is critical to building a progressive future for cities around the country, including Los Angeles. What most of these emerging leaders need is a catalyst to channel their own potential and support in sustaining their connection to the progressive movement. We believe there is a place for these 20 Front Line Leaders Academy fellows to make a difference in Los Angeles.