April 5, 2024

BATON ROUGE—The Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs at LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication is recruiting its fourth cohort for “The Community Collaborative: By the Community, For the Community,” a statewide capacity-building project designed to enhance citizens’ ability to engage civically.

Selected applicants will attend a four-part training session led by Katie Knobloch, Ph.D. In these sessions, participants will learn how to identify and work on collective solutions for community challenges.

“I am overjoyed to be collaborating with Dr. Knobloch for an additional year on this project,” said Reilly Center Director Jenée Slocum, Ph.D. “She has shown constant commitment and consideration to the cause of creating a more civically engaged Louisiana by sharing her skillset with those in the program.”

Knobloch, an associate professor in the Department of Communication Studies and associate director of the Center for Public Deliberation at Colorado State University, will train the new cohort to understand community needs, solicit input in project development, write grant proposals, brainstorm fundraisers and create realistic projects.

“As an alumna of the Manship School, I am excited to return to the Louisiana community and work with local leaders to foster meaningful public engagement opportunities that honor the experiences and needs of local residents,” said Knobloch. “Each year, the Collaborative has generated positive projects based on community goals that have created lasting change, and I am excited to see what this year will bring.”

Following Knobloch’s training sessions, participants will develop mini-grant applications aimed at fulfilling their public projects. Applications will be reviewed by policy experts, and four participants will be selected to receive $5,000 each for project implementation.

To learn more and apply, visit the Reilly Center's Community Collaborative webpage. Civic experience is not necessary to apply, and all participants will be financially compensated for their time. Applicants cannot participate on behalf of an established organization. However, applicants can participate as an independent community leader or on behalf of a start-up organization looking to expand their civic reach. The participant application will be open until April 15 at 10 p.m. Central Time.

For more information, contact Adamaris Chavez at achav23@lsu.edu or 504-491-4802, Emily Pope at epope12@lsu.edu or 318-792-9023 and Savannah-Leigh Schultes at sschu17@lsu.edu or 760-271-1848.

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The Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs is partnership-driven, action-oriented and dedicated to exploring contemporary issues at the intersection of mass communication and public life. Its interdisciplinary approach draws together experts from diverse fields to advance research and dialogue. The intent is to inspire our communities to think deeply, take action, develop solutions and broaden knowledge. Underlying the Center’s endeavors is to strengthen and advance the Manship School’s national and state leadership in media and politics. Follow us on Facebook @ReillyCenter, Twitter @ReillyCenter, Instagram @lsureillycenter and LinkedIn LSU Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs.

LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication ranks among the strongest collegiate communication programs in the country, with its robust emphasis on media and public affairs. It offers undergraduate degrees in public relations, journalism, political communication, digital advertising and pre-law, along with four graduate degree programs: Master of Mass Communication, Ph.D. in Media and Public Affairs, Certificate of Strategic Communication and a dual MMC/Law degree. Like us on Facebook @ManshipSchool, or follow us on Twitter @ManshipSchool, Instagram @ManshipSchool and LinkedIn LSU Manship School of Mass Communication.