Serving on a local board or commission is an excellent way to engage with your community and contribute to decision-making processes that affect the policies in your city, county, or state. Whether you’re focused on education, infrastructure, or environmental policies, this playbook will guide you through the steps of identifying, applying for, and serving on an advisory body that aligns with your interests and expertise.
What’s Inside:
This playbook provides a clear, actionable path from discovering the right board to applying and contributing effectively. You’ll also find tips for engaging with elected officials, understanding the nuances of parliamentary procedures, and maximizing your impact on policy decisions.
The first step to joining a board or commission is figuring out where you can make the most impact. Here’s how to start:
Before applying, it’s crucial to understand how the board works. Here’s what to do:
The application process for advisory bodies can vary by jurisdiction. Here’s how to approach it:
Interviews are a common part of the selection process. Here’s how to prepare:
Once you’ve been selected, it’s important to hit the ground running:
Now that you’re in, the real work begins:
Ready to inform local policy? Download the full guide below to learn how to apply, prepare, and make a real impact on your community.
This July, ESAL is offering a way for you to take your learning to the next level by connecting with other civic-minded people in STEM. We will host our first learning cohort for The Toolkit from July 6th to 31st, 2026. Participants in the cohort get access to the course materials week by week and receive access to weekly discussion sessions to go deeper.
On May 8th, ESAL and the Ecological Society of America co-hosted a virtual event centered around the urgency of protecting wetlands and their significance in maintaining climate resilience in the future. Learn about the ways the event speakers encourage public engagement.
Varsha Chauhan is a physician and computer scientist. Her career trajectory has included leadership roles public health, health IT, and health systems administration. Most recently she was elected Board member of Eden Health District. ESAL interviewed Chauhan to learn more about how she has woven government and community engagement throughout her career.
Our latest playbook guide aims to help you find an entry point into local policy engagement through service on an advisory board or commission. We walk you through how to overcome some of the common barriers, including identifying an advisory board and preparing for your interview and service.
Monya Lane is the CEO of the Livermore Science & Society Center, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting people with science and technology. The group is in the planning phases of a science center to serve the students, families, and their communities of the California Tri-Valley area.
After completing a Ph.D. and post-doctoral fellowship in molecular biology, Mike Fisher moved to Red Bank, a vibrant town of 12,000 residents along the Jersey Shore. There, he joined the local environmental commission, leading to later efforts on a congressional campaign and his current job at the Federation of American Scientists, a science and technology nonprofit organization in D.C.
