Your questions. Our answers.

Mission + Nonpartisanship

 
What is the mission of New Politics Leadership Academy?
New Politics Leadership Academy is a nonpartisan non-profit organization dedicated to revitalizing American democracy by recruiting, supporting, and empowering servant leaders who put community and country over self. Through leadership development programming, hard skill training, and networking events, we're building a new pipeline into politics for Americans who have served our communities and country before and who feel called to continue their service through civic engagement and politics.
Is this for a conservative or progressive group?
We work with folks across the ideological spectrum.
Are you really nonpartisan? Why are you nonpartisan?
  • Our number one focus is empowering servant leaders with courage, integrity, and empathy – and we don’t think there’s anything partisan about those values. We think leadership should transcend party. So we’ll talk to, and consider supporting, anyone with a service background who embodies those leadership values.
  • We need leaders with the courage to stand up for what’s right, the integrity to build trust, and the empathy to understand that their decisions affect real people’s lives.
  • Now, saying you should put country first isn’t to paper over the real, important differences between the parties, or to say that the policy or philosophical debates they have aren’t important. We think that’s what politics itself is for.
Where does your funding come from?
Our funding comes from a combination of grants, foundations, and individual donors like yourselves. In 2023 20% of our budget came from grants and foundations and the remaining 80% came from individual donors ranging from $1 to $1.25 million. If you or anyone you know is interested in supporting our work, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Tiffani Sykhammountry, our Director of Development at tiffani@newpolitics.org.
I understand there's no cost to attend any of your programming. Why are you asking for a donation upon enrollment?
We are committed to making our programs as accessible as possible for servant leaders considering a path into politics. For that reason, there is no program fee for any of our programs. That being said, we are a non-profit and depend on donations from supporters to help us cover the costs of these programs and grow our impact. If a donation would be a financial hardship for you, no payment is required to participate. If you are willing and able to donate at this time, your contribution will go directly towards supporting this program and growing this movement. We thank you for considering this opportunity to support our efforts.
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Servant Leadership

 
Who qualifies as a servant leader?
We’re building a movement to revitalize American democracy by recruiting, supporting, and empowering servant leaders who put community and country over self. A servant leader is someone who has dedicated their life to public service.
They’ve served as a:
  • Military veteran
  • AmeriCorps alumni
  • Peace Corps volunteer
  • Teacher
  • Social worker
  • Nonprofit service professional
  • Healthcare provider
  • Public health and disease researcher or administrator
  • Nonpartisan local and state government employees

They value honesty and integrity, and demonstrate that they can put people and country above profit and partisan politics. Learn more at the Answering the Call Program Information page.
Individuals are typically not eligible if they completed short-term experiences like an alternative spring break or summer service program; however, we do accept individuals on a case-by-case basis if they have committed to ongoing and intensive service. If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact Cristina at cristina@newpoliticsacademy.org.
If I am running for office now, can I participate in the programming?
As a nonpartisan organization people currently running for office are not eligible for our programming.
I’m interested in applying, but I have questions related to my military service…
If you are currently active duty, you absolutely can participate because New Politics Leadership Academy is a nonpartisan non-profit organization! You can also apply if you were dishonorably discharged. We review all applications on a case-by-case basis. If you have further questions, contact Cristina at cristina@newpoliticsacademy.org.
I don’t think I qualify as a servant leader. Can I still participate?
Answering the Call is a program for servant leaders. If you are not sure you qualify, please contact Cristina at cristina@newpoliticsacademy.org. If you know you don’t qualify but are still energized by our mission, we recommend checking out our upcoming events to see trainings that are open to the public. Additionally, Call Time Manager Bootcamp is open to anyone; no service background is required.
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Application Process

 
What’s the application process?
  • Step 1: Fill out the Intent to Apply form.
    When you apply, we'll want to learn about your service background and what motivates you to join our programs. See our Spring 2024 Schedule to learn when we typically host sessions during the week.
  • Step 2: Get accepted
    You should hear back from the team about your application status within two weeks.
  • Step 3: Enroll.
    You will need to fill out an enrollment form that will take less than 2 minutes to complete. By completing the enrollment form, you are confirming your spot in the program.
How soon will I hear back? I filled out a form and haven’t heard a response.
We’ll notify you of your application status within two weeks of receiving your application. If you still have not heard back from us, reach out to Cristina at cristina@newpoliticsacademy.org. Sometimes applicants submit an intent to apply form and think they’ve applied. She’ll make sure you’re all set and we have everything we need.
What if I apply and the schedule no longer works for me? Does that mean I can’t do this again?
We get it. Life happens. You definitely can join the program at a later date! We’ve had participants in the past get accepted to the program and realize they can no longer join us due to a schedule change in their personal life. Please let us know if you’d like to defer your acceptance. We will simply notify you the next time our programs are open to see if you are available to join.
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Answering the Call

 
What is Answering the Call?
Answering the Call (ATC) is a leadership development program that challenges participants to engage in the personal reflection necessary to understanding what kind of leader they can become, and whether and to what degree that leadership role involves politics. ATC provides space for deep personal reflection and connection with other servant leaders who are considering ways to serve their community through political engagement.
It is NOT designed to teach participants technical skills like how to plan a campaign or manage volunteers—those kinds of skills are important, but they come later. We believe it’s critical to start with some deep reflection on core values, purpose, and mission.
Participants can expect to:
  • Meet once a week for five sessions, or join our One-Day ATC cohort.
  • Engage in small group learning and discussion led by facilitators we’ve selected and trained.
  • Discern in what ways politics can be the next step in their service journey.
  • Connect with a candidate who has gone through our programming. Participants will learn about their story of service to politics and have an opportunity to ask them questions directly.
  • Emerge with greater clarity regarding their own sense of calling to become more politically engaged whether as a candidate, campaign staffer, appointee, or an engaged citizen.
  • Join a robust network of 2000+ alumni across the country upon graduation.
How will reflection and discernment help me if I want to go into politics?
Being clear on your deepest sense of mission and your “Why” for going into the political arena makes you stand out as a candidate. Constituents can sense when an individual has a commitment to their values and is authentic, and this comes with deep reflection before making that leap into political office. Answering the Call participants graduate feeling more confident in their decision to go into the political arena and have more success in seeking out resources because they’ve reflected on what it would mean to serve in politics.
What is involved in participating in Answering the Call?
Participants come together five separate times with fellow Servant Leaders for two hours for small group learning and discussion. There is no pre-work prior to the first session; participants are expected to complete reflection exercises in between each session that will require somewhere between 15 and 45 minutes to complete.
To graduate, participants are required to:
  • Attend the first introductory session
  • Attend at least three out of the following four sessions (but we hope you attend all five!)
What are the goals of Answering the Call?
Answering the Call engages participants in the personal reflection necessary to understand what kind of leader they can become and in what ways they can lead through politics.
At the end of ATC, participants will have:
  1. Identified why they served and how this influences their continued civic engagement
  2. Gained clarity about the role they should play in revitalizing our democracy
  3. Gained access to a robust network of resources, mentors, and likeminded servant leaders
How do I apply to participate in an Answering the Call program?
Answering the Call is offered every spring and fall. If you’re interested in applying to future sessions you can fill out our intent to apply form to be notified when applications open. Reach out to Cristina Flores, Director of Partnerships and Growth at cristina@newpoliticsacademy.org with any questions or concerns.
What if I can't attend all five sessions?
Answering the Call is a short program, and we strongly encourage attending all five sessions to get the most out of the experience. The first session includes a great deal of essential content, so you MUST attend the first session in order to participate in the program.
After you attend the first session, if you need to miss a subsequent session, you can do so and still be considered a graduate of the program. We also offer make-up times for Sessions 2, 3, 4, and 5 if you are eager to not miss any content.
Participants who miss two or more sessions, and do not attend the corresponding make-up sessions, will not be considered graduates of the program and will not gain access to our alumni resources. Those individuals are welcome to apply again for a later cohort.
When and where are Answering the Call programs happening?
You can find all the most current schedules by clicking on our Schedule.
Should I participate in Answering the Call?
Do you have a service background? Have you ever found yourself wondering — with any degree of seriousness — if you feel called to enter the political arena? If you can answer “yes” to both of those questions, this program is for you. A commitment to run for office is not a prerequisite for participation. Rather, we are seeking people who want to reflect on their personal aspirations to become more politically engaged in some form. Public service might be running directly for office, but could also be managing campaigns or working for public officials.
Please note: If you are an alumnus of a service program who is already 100% certain that you plan to run for office, this program may not be for you. We encourage you to reach out to us directly.
I don’t want to run for congress, but I’m interested in politics at the state or local level. Is this still for me?
Yes! This program is for individuals interested in political service at any level: local, state, tribal or federal..
I have no interest in becoming a candidate myself, but I'm intrigued by the possibility of working on political campaigns in some professional capacity. Should I participate in Answering the Call?
Yes! There are many ways to get involved in politics as a Servant Leader that does not involve becoming a candidate yourself. If you are interested in becoming a political staffer, you are still in our target audience and this will be a valuable experience for you.
What are the expectations of participants upon completion of Answering the Call?
There are no formal expectations of our graduates; however, we invite you to join our alumni programming to continue to learn more. We are eager to serve as a support system in helping you clarify your pathway into politics. We encourage alums considering running for office to join Foundations, and those who are interested in staffing campaigns to join Call Time Manager Bootcamp.
Are you running Answering the Call in my city?
While we love local in-person programming, most of our programs are currently virtual, so you can apply regardless of your location! Check out our list of sessions to see what is offered now.
Should I still do Answering the Call if I’m interested in Foundations and Call Time Manager Bootcamp?
While you’re not required to take Answering the Call before joining Call Time Manager Bootcamp, we find that participants who graduated Answering the Call are more grounded in their decision to serve in politics. We recommend attending Answering the Call first if you can and are eligible.
The vast majority of our Foundations participants attend Answering the Call first, and this is what we recommend. This is because the reflection process that takes place during Answering the Call sets up the groundwork for Foundations, and will inform the training you’ll be undertaking.
I have more questions! Who can I contact?
Contact Cristina Flores, Director of Partnerships and Growth, at cristina@newpoliticsacademy.org.
How can I stay engaged after Answering the Call?
If you are considering running for office after completion of Answering the Call, you can join us for Foundations. This is for individuals who know they want to run in the future. Foundations runs every summer and winter, so you can join when the time is right for you!
Or maybe you’re eager to learn skills to help you succeed on the campaign trail? Join us for Call Time Manager Bootcamp where you’ll learn the basics of running a campaign.
You can also engage with us and the broader community through our annual alumni speed networking sessions or search for other servant leaders in your area and connect with them through our Alumni Directory. We’ll keep you up to date on partner organization offerings, special panels and speakers, and how to get involved in the political arena through our alumni newsletters and on our alumni only Portal.
What are your alumni doing now?
Some of our alumni go on to run for office at the state and local level, others pursue staffing a campaign, still others volunteer by driving people to the polls, becoming poll workers, or supporting get out the vote initiatives. Others pursue a masters in policy or gain appointed positions. As this list makes clear, many of our alumni decide that running for office isn’t right for them, and that’s ok! We’re just glad that servant leaders are exploring how to be more politically engaged.
What have past participants said about their answering the call experience?
"My experience with New Politics Academy drove home the reason I felt called to serve my country in the first place. Rarely have I been surrounded by such amazing and dedicated public servants. Where before I was unsure, the New Politics experience erased any personal doubts. Quite simply, it changed the way I see politics. Like never before, I feel ready and confident to explore new opportunities to seek public office." - Mark, United States Air Force Veteran
"Answering the Call is for any alumnae of National Service who has ever asked themselves, "What now? or What's next?" I had no idea if I was hearing the call to public service but this course allowed me to deeply reflect on how else I can give back to my country and to contribute to the issues I feel passionately about." - Nikki, City Year AmeriCorps Alum
"Answering the Call helped me to take time to reflect and understand myself and my experiences better, and put them into the context of service toward a broader purpose. Specifically, I valued the spaces it provided to discuss how public service can be a vehicle, both for advancing equity through building trust with one’s community, and to re-think what power and leadership can and should look like.” — Safaya, Public Allies AmeriCorps Alum
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Call Time Manager Bootcamp

 
What does a Call Time Manager do?
A Call Time Manager is meant to reflect the realities of a campaign, so the verticals align with typical roles found on a large campaign staff. By learning in verticals, our participants gain entry-level knowledge and practice of specific needs every campaign has, no matter the size. Learn more about each vertical track here.
Do I need to have service experience for this program?
No. This is open to anyone with an interest in the role.
Do I need to have previous campaign experience?
No. Call Time Manager is an entry-level position that is ideal for individuals just getting started, so there is no need for previous experience.
I am interested in running for office myself. Should I attend this program?
This is for people who want to work as staff on campaigns. Though they may also want to run for office one day in the future, this program is not geared towards being a candidate. Looking to start your journey exploring questions about running for office? Please apply for our program Answering the Call.
Am I guaranteed a job if I complete this program?
The short answer is no; we can’t guarantee that all graduates of this program will get a job as a Call Time Manager. The longer answer is that we have created this program because we understand many 2023 campaigns are struggling to find staff for this role, and they may be excited to meet the individuals we train.
Will I get paid as a Call Time Manager?
Yes. In general, political campaigns do not pay a lot of money, but within the context of political campaigns, this is a well-paid position. The finance team are often among the first positions hired and the last positions fired when campaigns are low on resources. We will discuss all of this in more detail as part of the training.
Is there a fee for this program?
No; there is no cost to participate.
Should I still apply if I can’t attend both sessions?
No. You need to be able to attend the full program to participate.
Still have questions?
Reach out to Lucy Arthur-Paratley, Director of Programs at lucy@newpoliticsacademy.org.
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Foundations

 
How is Foundations different from Answering the Call?
Foundations is for people who have decided running for office is in their future. In Foundations highly experienced campaign advisors provide direct feedback and answer questions. Participants begin laying the groundwork for a campaign by drafting public narratives and practicing fundraising pitches, thus Foundations is more tactical than Answering the Call.
Do you offer any in-person Foundations classes?
Foundations is always a virtual program because we have participants from across the country who are part of our nationwide alumni network. We find it really helpful for people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences to come together in Foundations to learn, share resources, and network.
Is Foundations only for people interested in Congress or is it open to people interested in local and state races?
Our participants are interested in all levels of political office—from local and state to Congressional. And many participants do not know what level they are interested in yet, just that they believe they want to continue serving their community through elected office.
What have past participants said about Foundations?
“Foundations provided me with concrete campaign skills. Combined with the support of the New Politics staff, I feel well prepared to take the next step in my leadership journey.” - Pete, AmeriCorps VISTA, U.S. Army
“Before Foundations, I thought I might run for office someday. Now, I know I am running and how to invest my time in the next two years.” - PJordan, U.S. Navy
“This was really helpful in solidifying to me that not only am I worthy to run but that there are people who will help.” - PEileen, U.S. Army
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