Across JCI USA, members continue to demonstrate incredible passion for leadership development, community impact, and member growth. As our organization evolves, so must the tools that support our chapters in creating sustainable success.
The Civic Leadership Certification (CLC) and Passport to Civic Leadership programs are being launched this year with a clear goal in mind: to provide every member and chapter, regardless of position or size, with a practical roadmap toward growth, engagement, leadership development, and long-term sustainability.
These are not just checklists or basic certification programs. They are structured frameworks designed to help you think strategically, measure progress, celebrate milestones, and strengthen the member experience.
The Basics
Both CLC and Passport provide a series of challenges to deepen engagement across JCI’s four areas of opportunity, with forms on our website to track your progress and printable lists for reference. Both allow you to get the most out of your membership, and they each recognize members and chapters for their achievements.
So, what’s the difference? CLC and Passport diverge in two key areas:
-
- Audience: Any member can participate in the Passport to Civic Leadership program. Tasks are accomplished individually, and you can submit your own progress online. On the other hand, CLC is completed as a chapter. Members collaborate on tasks to put your local organization on track for success. One representative submits progress online on behalf of the chapter as a whole.
-
- Timeline: CLC is completed by chapters on an annual basis, with the program resetting every year. Many challenges are specific to a quarter or calendar month. Passport, meanwhile, is a long-term, individual journey. Your progress doesn’t reset at the end of the year. Challenges are broken down into ten “degrees,” with recognition milestones along the way.
Civic Leadership Certification
Chapters today face increasing challenges: member retention, recruitment, leadership transitions, and balancing community impact with volunteer capacity. The updated CLC format helps address these challenges through:
-
- Measurable progress milestones.
-
- Data-informed support through Membership Team reporting.
-
- Recognition opportunities that celebrate achievement.
-
- Leadership development pathways.
-
- Peer mentorship opportunities.
Whether a chapter has 8 members or 80, the CLC provides clarity on what success looks like and how to achieve it. The new program intentionally supports:
-
- Chapters under 20 members seeking stability and growth.
-
- Established chapters looking to improve engagement.
-
- High-performing chapters ready to mentor others.
CLC was designed to serve as more than a recognition program. It is a strategic roadmap created to help every chapter regardless of size or experience build momentum, strengthen engagement, and create lasting impact. You can now access the submission form to get started tracking your chapter’s progress.
Passport to Civic Leadership
Passport serves as a roadmap for growing as a leader through your Jaycee journey. If you ever find yourself asking what more opportunities exist, Passport is a great place to find your next step.
For those that have been a part of the program in the past, Passport to Civic Leadership might look a little different. Tasks involving the JCI Action Framework have been turned into taking JCI Official Courses that include the framework, but also strengthen your ability to pass on skills to the next generation of JCI leaders. Tasks completed in the past will be counted towards the updated program – no need to start over!
There will be some fluidity in the program as changes come to JCI official courses. As changes come from the international level, Passport will be adjusted accordingly. We saw fit to use the framework already in place as those courses are still being offered while changes are developed and approved.
You can now submit your completed steps through this form on the JCI USA website. You will be able to save your progress or submit through the new portal. Submissions will be passed on to the program manager and forwarded to state presidents for verification and approval of the submission.
Roundtables & Contacts
All members are invited to join our roundtable discussions to learn more about these programs and get any questions answered on March 10th and 24th, via our Training & Events Calendar. You can also reach out to Cassie Brethen (Program Coordinator, cbrethen@jciusa.org), or the following contacts for each program:
Passport to Civic Leadership:
- National Vice President Nick Mayrand (nmayrand@jciusa.org)
- Program Manager Kevin Young (passport@jciusa.org)
- Kevin Young has been a member of JCI Santa Clarita since 2021. He has served as VP of Civic Engagement for JCI Santa Clarita (2024), VP of Training and Development for JCI California (2025), and is currently serving as Treasurer for JCI California.
Civic Leadership Certification:
- National Vice President Abigail Snider (asnider@jciusa.org)
- We are currently looking to fill the Program Manager role for CLC! If you are interested, please reach out to Abigail Snider.