The Center for Civic Leadership

The Center for Civic Leadership (CCL) was founded in 2005 by former Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan, J.D. The CCL promotes civic engagement and leadership among young people and the general public while emphasizing  training for Benedictine students to help them become the next generation of leaders in public life. We offer a number of complimentary programs, including a speaker series featuring a variety of local, state and national leaders, panel discussions, and the annual Youth Government Day conference for area high school students and educators.

The CCL is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving discourse and the political culture in Illinois by encouraging civil, open dialogue across political boundaries – often exploring difficult social and economic issues and policies. At a time of deep polarization in the electorate and among our elected officials, the Center seeks to provide a professional, safe environment for addressing the challenging issues of our time. For more information, download our brochure.