Getting Through To Governments: Communications Bootcamp is a free, part-time, and virtual Aspen Policy Academy program that helps people interested in getting involved in their communities learn how to write and communicate more effectively to governments. This short course will help you become a stronger communicator so you can influence government stakeholders and achieve real change. Are you a teacher seeking to get your school board to change education policy? An army reservist hoping to improve veterans’ health care? Anybody with a strong idea for how your government could serve you better? This program is for you!
Participants will learn how to:
- Make effective arguments for getting governments to change policy,
- Deliver effective oral briefings for government officials, and
- Write concisely and persuasively for government audiences.
Outside of program sessions, participants should expect to spend 1-2 hours every day during the week on policy assignments and 5-10 hours on a final assignment that will be due after the last day of instruction.
Before applying, please carefully review the Getting Through To Governments: Communications Bootcamp details and eligibility below and review the frequently asked questions at the bottom of this page.
Application Deadline
Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 11:59pm PT
Timeline
January 15–February 22, 2026: Application window is open.
By early March: Participants are notified of their acceptance.
March 30–April 3, 2026: Getting Through To Governments: Communications Bootcamp runs, with daily sessions from 9-11am PT / 12-2pm ET.
Eligibility
We are looking for engaged community members interested in influencing policy in their local community. This course is especially good for those interested in upskilling their writing and communications skills to better engage with government stakeholders. Strong applicants likely have a specific idea for a local policy change they’d love to see, either because they’ve experienced a problem firsthand and want to try to fix it, or because they have professional experience on that topic. Examples include a social worker trying to improve health policy, a parent trying to improve school policy, or a community member trying to get a stop sign installed at their corner.
Graduates of this program will be prepared to provide oral briefings to government officials; submit letters and public comments on local policy questions; and write effective arguments for policy change.
Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and must be participating in their personal capacity. Because this program is for people who want to impact US policymaking, successful applicants must either live or be able to work in the United States.
Applicants must be able to commit to 5 daily 2-hour virtual sessions during the course dates, as well as prepare several policy communication assignments outside of class (about 1-2 hours every day and 5-10 hours on a final assignment that will be due after the last day of instruction).
Where and When
The virtual course is scheduled for March 30–April 3, 2026.
Participants will attend daily 2-hour sessions from 9-11am PT / 12-2pm ET.
Participants should expect to dedicate time to both scheduled “classroom” sessions, 1-2 hours of daily after-class assignments through the duration of the course, and 5-10 hours on a final assignment.
Application Schedule
Admitted applicants will be notified in early March.
