The Graduate Certificate in Community Advocacy for non-profit organizations is designed to meet the graduate educational needs of students preparing to become leaders of community activism or to become change agents for public policy. It responds to a specific need stated by leaders of several non-profit organizations - to bring together existing courses into a concentration that focuses exclusively on challenging and building community awareness, a need made more acute with the re-emergence of grassroots mobilization as a key component to community advocacy.

The centrality of grassroots participation by individuals in the political process to affect substantive change in the body politic or commonweal has recently re-merged. This recognition faded somewhat in the mid-twentieth century as broadcast media became viewed as either the principal or even the only way to move the body politic. The re-emergence of grassroots activism is due to the success of recent political campaigns that have stressed traditional grassroots techniques buttressed by such new technologies as micro-targeting and the new media spawned by the Internet.

The certificate consists of six courses (18-credit-hours) that bring together the necessary practical skills with a deep understanding of the basic philosophies by which communities are organized to bring about change in the commonweal.

The practicum is guided by both a GSPM faculty member working jointly with the partnering organization. Over the course of the semester, students develop a case study, which is of value to the partnering organization and to GSPM faculty for use in future classes.

For more information on this program contact Edward Grefe at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 202-994-8934.

Community Advocacy Frequently Asked Questions

NOTE: Currently, the certificate program is only available through participating non-profit, partnering organizations. This restriction may be removed at a later date.