Empowered Voices
Black male leadership in civic engagement.
A six-month initiative equipping Black males with the knowledge, skills, and resources to participate actively in civic life \u2014 voting rights, policy advocacy, leadership development, and community organizing.
The goal is a pipeline: men who are well-informed, engaged, and committed to improving the policies and neighborhoods they live in — and equipped to teach the people around them to do the same.
Six core modules
Module 1
Foundations of civic engagement
The history of Black civic leadership and social movements, how local, state, and federal government actually work, and the role of voting in shaping a community.
Module 2
Advocacy and public policy
How policy lands on Black communities, strategies for influencing decisions, and how to engage elected officials through the legislative process.
Module 3
Leadership and public speaking
Communication for advocacy, grassroots organizing, and media literacy — navigating news, misinformation, and social platforms.
Module 4
Financial and economic empowerment
Reading local government budgets and community investments, economic justice and wealth-building advocacy, and supporting Black business through policy.
Module 5
Criminal justice and community safety
Mass incarceration and its policy implications, community-led public safety solutions, and restorative justice work with law enforcement.
Module 6
Building a civic legacy
Becoming a mentor, creating sustainable community initiatives, and a graduation commitment to ongoing engagement.
Beyond the classroom
- Guest speakers and panels
- Black elected officials, activists, and civic leaders.
- Field trips
- City council meetings, state legislature visits, and community action events.
- Advocacy project
- Each participant identifies a local issue and builds a real campaign.
- Voter engagement
- Registration drives and election-season mobilization.
- Mentorship
- Sustained networking with civic leaders across the Triad.