Sonja Manning was with us as a fellow from Deloitte from March to May 2019.

What project work were you involved in during your time at the Civic Consulting Alliance?

I was fortunate to support a Civic Consulting Alliance project to roll out Universal Pre-K in the Chicago Public Schools (CPS). The project vision is ambitious and exciting—to expand the number of 4-year-olds served by CPS from 12,500 as of school year 2018-2019 to 24,000 by school year 2021-2022. I focused on launching a cross-functional collaboration model within CPS and on creating a more structured and strategic approach to engage school principals and district leadership in the process.

What will you take away from your time at Civic Consulting Alliance?

First, no matter the industry, organization, or problem I am trying to solve, the most important factors for success are building relationships and building trust. Second, as someone who spent five years consulting at the federal level, I realized that there is a great deal of innovation and strategic leadership happening at the local level that should be celebrated. Finally, as someone who moved to Chicago from D.C., I learned that civic engagement is uniquely woven into Chicago’s fabric.

What was your most memorable experience during your time at Civic Consulting Alliance?

I traveled to schools and communities all over the city to meet with principals, teachers, and CPS leadership. It was powerful to meet with so many people who were passionate about education and motivated to increase access to and quality of early childhood education.

How has your time at Civic Consulting Alliance helped you develop professionally?

My time at Civic Consulting Alliance provided me with a client service experience on which to reflect as I head to business school at University of Michigan (go blue!) this fall. I’ve developed a deeper understanding of what types of problems I like to solve and the personal and professional skills I want to cultivate.

Civic Consulting Alliance Fellowships are full-time positions that typically last between three months and a year. Fellows are integrated into project teams for a unique professional development opportunity. Please visit the Fellowships page on our website to learn more about our range of fellowship opportunities.