Through the Leadership Academy, Alexii learned how to connect with local governments and persuade electeds in service of his tribe. He believes that tribal governments could be more influential than they currently are and wants to see them take their power back as legitimate and equal peers to local governments. He envisions a future where indigenous communities lead decision-making that affects the health of their homelands.
For Trina, the most gratifying part of her work has been facilitating connections that bring people together to find solutions to issues big and small. This is serving her well in her new Executive Director role, working collaboratively with other agencies and organizations like Green Foothills to protect the natural habitats and agricultural lands of Santa Clara County.
Deb joined the Leadership Academy to improve her understanding of the political process and how city staff and agencies interact with nonprofits. She feels the Leadership Academy is influencing her daily work to create an urban open space park in Coyote Meadows. For Deb, the most powerful part of the program was creating her own mission and vision statement to keep her focused on why she does what she does and how she goes about doing it.
Thanks to the Leadership Academy, Uriel is more committed than ever to staying engaged and speaking up for the changes he wants to see. He knows it’s up to him as a community member to show up and keep the pressure on government so they know people care. Uriel is already starting to be recognized for his leadership on environmental issues. In March 2017 he received Bay Nature’s Local Hero award for Youth Engagement.
Within the Leadership Academy, Violet found the support and network to help those who most need it. She says it reaffirmed her passion to work on climate change and build community resilience. Recently, she founded her own non-profit, which cultivates environmental awareness and builds stronger alliances between communities in East Palo Alto and Belle Haven.
One of the most meaningful parts of the Leadership Academy for Morgan was the friendships she made with 30 other local leaders, who come from every walk of life. Seeing these people every month invigorated her. They supported one another, improved one another, and reminded one other that they can each make an impact.
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