Across the country, local boards and commissions are training grounds for members who often go on to higher levels of leadership in their communities. Sadly, these commissions usually do not reflect the full diversity of the places they serve. They are frequently lacking young people, queer people and especially people of color.

To help increase diverse and pro-environment representation, LCV Education Fund’s Boards and Commissions grant program supports our state affiliates in recruiting and training future leaders seeking appointments to boards and commissions in their communities.

Our friends at Conservation Voters of South Carolina Education Fund kicked off their Palmetto Leadership Academy earlier this year. This program is intended to train a diverse group of South Carolina leaders to serve on their local boards and commissions, where they can influence environmental policy and build power for the movement in their state.

Our fellows in South Carolina will learn many of the skills they will need to know to serve effectively, including understanding public meeting laws, how to use Robert’s Rules of Order, the language in which decisions are made in public meetings, how to build effective relationships, how to understand public budgets, how legislation is developed and passed, how to power map an issue, and much more. They also learn about environmental policy over the course of their six-month fellowship.

Being appointed to a board or commission can feel like a mysterious process to new leaders, so fellows are also paired with a seasoned leader in their community who serves as a mentor and helps them navigate the process.

Over the course of the program, fellows meet and learn from speakers who help them understand how government works. At the kickoff in January, they heard from lobbyists who have successfully shepherded legislation through the state legislature.

Fellows also spent time getting to know each other. With an art activity called the River of Life, fellows reflected on the forces that have shaped them as leaders and brought about a desire to serve in their communities.

At future sessions, fellows will share the boards and commissions they are interested in serving on, and learn more about the appointment process. They will also have a chance to conduct a mock hearing on an issue in city council chambers, so they can experience leading a public meeting as they would have to do once appointed to a position.

The goal is for all fellows to apply to serve on a board or commission by the time their fellowship ends. Over time, we hope these leaders will help make leadership across South Carolina more reflective of the state’s full diversity.

We wish these leaders luck as they begin their journeys to help change the future of South Carolina!

Learn more about LCVEF’s Boards and Commissions Fellowship program with our state leagues, and read more posts in our blog series.