By Megan Sayles
AFRO Staff Writer
msayles@afro.com
The Walter P. Carter (WPC) Institute of Leadership and Service, created by former Maryland State Sen. Jill P. Carter, has launched its first major initiative, the Community Leadership and Empowerment Program (CLEP). The free 10-week civic education and leadership development course was designed to foster Baltimore’s next generation of changemakers.
Carter collaborated with Aaron Maybin, local educator, community organizer and former NFL player, and Kristerfer Burnett, deputy chief equity officer for the city of Baltimore, to establish the program. She noted that the initiative honors the legacy of her father, Walter P. Carter, for whom the institute is named.
“CLEP is deeply personal for me. It reflects the principle of self-determination that my father believed in. Walter P. Carter was ‘Mr. Civil Rights’ because he lived his purpose in organizing, educating and mobilizing people to lead themselves,” said Carter. “He knew change would never come from the top, so he worked to build it from the ground up—from the grassroots in our communities.”
Walter P. Carter was a civil rights legend in Maryland—coordinating residents for the 1963 March on Washington, chairing the Congress of Racial Equality’s local chapter and leading demonstrations to eliminate segregation in the state.
Carter was only 7 years old when her father died. She said even at such a young age, she knew he dedicated his life to fighting for justice. She’s taken on this calling and hopes to advance it with CLEP.
“CLEP carries his mission forward. It gives people real tools and knowledge to step into leadership, challenge injustice and serve their communities,” said Carter. “It’s about making sure that the people closest to the problems are also closest to the solutions. That’s what he believed in, and it’s what I believe in too.”
The application for CLEP is now open. It includes a few components, including a personal essay, three letters of recommendation and résumé. The program is open to individuals who are 21 and older, or at least a junior in college. There is also a special emphasis on reaching individuals from marginalized communities, who are often denied equal access to civic education and leadership development opportunities. The deadline to apply is Aug. 8.
“CLEP is about removing the gatekeeping that has kept so many capable leaders out of public service,” said Aaron Maybin. “We want to equip everyday people with the knowledge and skills to lead with purpose and without compromise.”
The course will cover various avenues of civic engagement in Maryland, including grassroots organizing, public service, issue advocacy and legislative literacy. It was also intentionally designed to be nonpartisan as national politics become more divisive.
“It’s not about pushing an agenda. It’s about making sure people understand how the government works, how laws are made and how to navigate systems that too often feel out of reach,” said Carter. “You don’t have to be a politician to make change. You need access to information and someone willing to break it down without judgment.”
Though the founders expect that some participants will go on to run for public office, churning out new political candidates is not the ultimate goal of CLEP. Instead, the top priority is to instill in participants a sense of integrity, accountability and a desire to better serve their communities.
“For me, this work didn’t stop when I left elected office,” said Burnett, a former Baltimore councilman. “CLEP is about building a bench of future leaders who are confident, informed and rooted in something bigger than politics.”
