Community Equity Program

The Community Equity Program (CEP) is an immersive political leadership program housed at Wilder that brings together Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color (BIPOC) who want to get involved in Minnesota’s legislative policy and fight for change in their communities. Led by a BIPOC team, CEP provides participants with a 9-month cohort experience along with knowledge and tools to: advocate and advance state-level legislation, engage with policymakers, question existing systems of power, create space for dreaming, and ultimately, build community power and solidarity to advance justice at the Capitol.
Note: this program does not explicitly focus on electoral politics or running for office (but can help you in the long run if you do!). The cost to join CEP is free and only requires time and commitment.

Congratulations to the 2021-2022 cohort finishing their political leadership journey through the Community Equity Program!
Meet CEP's incredible BIPOC community leaders and learn more about who they are and why they joined the Community Equity Program. Want to join CEP in 2022-2023? Join an info session to learn more with staff and alumni and/or apply to join the program!
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About Community Equity Program
Community Equity Program's mission is to deepen engagement of BIPOC communities in the legislative process by building connections to people, communities, groups, and organizations that influence or enact public policy.
Who should participate in CEP: Program Participants
Our program is open to applicants who are both early and seasoned in their political leadership journeys. At CEP, we are more interested in learning about your passions and commitment to activating change in community than popularity, degrees or accolades (though we're sure you worked hard for those as well!). Everyone has something to learn and share from/with one another and we welcome the unique experiences that each person brings with them to the program. In order to apply, applicants must:
- Be 18 years of age or older by September 1st, 2022
- Reside in the Twin Cities metro area (this program year will likely have some in-person sessions) - Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington counties
- Identify within a spectrum of racial/ethnic identities, including but not limited to: Black, Indigenous, Asian, Pacific Islander, Latine, Caribbean, Middle Eastern/North African, African, Bi/Multi-Ethnic, etc. This program is not open to folks who primarily identify as white/Caucasian.
- Have an interest and commitment to impacting state-level legislative policy in Minnesota
- Be committed and available to attend at least 90% of scheduled cohort meetings and program-related activities during the extent of the program (students are welcome to apply if they can guarantee their availability the ENTIRE program year)
Why join CEP: Program Features & Benefits
- Develop skills and knowledge necessary for navigating and taking action during a legislative session including: legislative timelines, navigating the Capitol campus, reading/drafting bill language, coalition building, preparing and delivering testimonies, and more.
- Collectively Cultivate a space to discuss the harsh realities of public policy work and its impact on BIPOC's physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing individually/community-wide.
- Engage in an immersive experience by participating in legislative coalitions and supporting legislation that directly impacts BIPOC people and their respective communities.
- Build meaningful relationships with a diverse learning community of leaders, who become resources, mentors, friends, allies and a network for your work.
- Connect with other BIPOC leaders outside the cohort who are passionate and knowledgeable about different topics and whose work takes on many different forms - legislative staff, community organizers, activists, journalists, elected officials, lobbyists, etc.
- Examine and cultivate personal leadership through reflection and critical analysis of your experience navigating the legislative process.
- Share your knowledge from this program and help to engage others' in advocacy.
What is your commitment to CEP: Program Length & Format
Cohort members should expect to spend about 20 hours per month on CEP-related activities.
- 9 months (September - May)
- 5-hour cohort educational sessions every other Friday from September-May
- 3-5 hours per month working with your paired advocacy coalition/organization
- 3-5 hours per month spent on individual assignments, group projects, time at the Capitol, etc.
- Regular 1:1 technical assistance/support check-ins with staff (monthly)
- Mandatory All-Day Kickoff Retreat in September
What you'll learn in CEP: Program Topics
- Learn about government structure and get immersed in the legislative process.
Observing the process on the ground is essential to understanding the Minnesota Legislature. Each participant will be tasked with completing a number of tasks in order to gain a deeper familiarity and comfort with the capitol including but not limited to: attending coalition meetings and bill hearings, tracking legislation and visiting lawmakers. CEP supports cohort member’s immersion experience through helping make strategic connections to lobbyists, coalitions and lawmakers. - Explore advocacy, media and communications
- Discover storytelling in policy and advocacy
- Craft your legislative agenda
- Learn how to decentralize whiteness and center your authenticity in public policy spaces
- Build coalitions, prepare and deliver effective testimonies and utilize space for radical re-imagination
I always felt like my life was shaped and determined by decision makers. Being in this program has allowed me to step up and be part of the decision-making.
Apply to the Community Equity Program
Applications are now open: We invite you to apply for the Community Equity Program and join CEP's 2022-2023 Cohort!
And, for the first time in CEP's history, we are excited to announce that we will be offering a $1,000 stipend (taxable) to each participant, dispersed at the end of the program. Funds can be used at the discretion of the participant and this stipend is offered as a token of appreciation for the investment of time and energy participants will each spend embarking on this journey.
Note: Applications will be accepted until Wednesday, June 1st at 11:59pm Central Time.
We will be offering 2 online information events for applicants who would like to learn more about the Community Equity Program. Staff and alumni of CEP will be present to answer any questions you might have!
- Info Session #1: Tuesday, May 10th from 12:00 - 1:30pm (Registration Link)
- Info Session #2: Tuesday, May 24th from 5:00 - 6:30pm (Registration Link)
Timeline/Process: The CEP Selection Squad (made up of program alumni + staff) uses a 2-part process to select the next cohort - an online application and a virtual group interview. In Round 1, all applicants will have their applications reviewed and scored by a staff + 2 alumni. Those who advance to Round 2 will participate in a Zoom group interview with 1-2 other applicants.
Round 1: Applications are accepted from Monday, May 2nd - Wednesday, June 1st at 11:59pm.
Round 2: Group Interviews (Monday, July 11th - Thursday, July 21st)
All applicants will receive an update on the status of their application on/before Wednesday, June 22nd by 7pm (either you will advance to the group interview round or your application will not move forward). Interview slots will be offered in the morning, afternoon, and early evening (roughly 8am-6pm start times). There will be no weekend interviews.
Final Decision: Applicants will receive an email notification regarding a final determination on/before Friday, July 29th by 7pm.
I thought, ‘Well, if I’m not going to be in the Legislature, I’d still like to engage it.’ That’s really what drew me to the program.
2022-2023 Community Equity Program Schedule
Kickoff: Wednesday, September 14 | 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. (in-person)
2022-2023 CEP Sessions:
- Friday, September 23
- Friday, October 7 & 21
- Friday, November 4 & 18
- Friday, December 2 & 16
- Friday, January 6 (in-person) & 20
- Friday, February 3 & 17
- Friday, March 3 & 17 (in-person) & 31
- Friday, April 14 & 28 (in-person)
- Friday, May 12
Graduation: Thursday, May 18, 2023 | 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. (in-person)
I spent two years working in community health education and health promotion. While doing this work with my community partners, our biggest challenges often involved the policies that made accessing quality healthcare services more difficult. In 2018, I returned to Minnesota with an interest in becoming fully engaged in local policy development and learning about tangible methods to change the policies that negatively impact the well-being of our communities of color.
When I learned about the Community Equity Program, I was excited to build connections with other BIPOC individuals who were passionate about public policy and to develop a deeper understanding of our legislative system. Throughout my participation in this program, I gained valuable insight into the ways that I can participate and advocate at the Capitol and within the local policy world. Along with this knowledge and most importantly, I met kind and amazing change-makers in this program. I am excited to continue these relationships and to support the great work of each member of my cohort. I will remember my time in this program as a space for growth, learning, and connection.
Meet the Changemakers of the Community Equity Program
Congratulations BIPOC Leaders!
Get to know the 2021-2022 CEP cohort who just started their leadership journey. Find out who they are, what they are invested in and why they joined CEP.
Stories, Research & Impact

Community Equity Program Helps Lindberg Chambliss Advocate for Anti-Racist Education
Lindberg Chambliss moved to Minneapolis in October 2020, intent on helping drive positive change after the murder of George Floyd. Lindberg, who had previously lived in Minneapolis, was exploring ways to support anti-racist education whe...More about this story »

Priscilla Villa-Watt Used the Community Equity Program to Enhance her Public Policy Skills While Building a Community
After working to strengthen environmental protections in Texas, Priscilla Villa-Watt moved to Minnesota in 2019 to become the advocacy and public policy manager for Eureka Recycling, a nonprofit zero waste organization and social enterpr...More about this story »

Community Equity Program Alum Triasia Givens Advocates for Education
Triasia Givens joined Wilder’s Community Equity Program in fall 2019 because she wanted to join with others to create change in the community. Triasia is the co-chair of the Black Parents Advisory Council of Minneapolis Public Schools an...More about this story »

Community Equity Program Gives Experienced Leader Linda Garrett-Johnson a Deeper Understanding of the Legislative Process
With more than 25 years of experience advocating for public policy changes, Linda Garrett-Johnson knows how to read a bill. Even with her experience, Wilder’s Community Equity Program helped Linda deepen her knowledge of the Minnesota le...More about this story »