The Jerry J. Dawson Civic Leadership Institute (DCLI) is a strategic, long-term initiative that empowers students in the Decatur Public Schools and young graduates to explore career pathways that serve their community while building a strong sense of civic responsibility. 

DCLI activities tie civic responsibility to job opportunities in public safety, healthcare, public policy, and governance. Students in the program also gain an understanding of how their personal decisions affect their own lives and those of others through the development and fostering of personal values and growth.