We are proud to announce that the program previously known as the Community Advocates Leadership Academy (CALA) has a new name. Drumroll… Green Foothills Leadership Program! We chose this more straightforward name after careful consideration by the Leadership Program Advisory Committee and Green Foothills staff, along with input from program alumni. The 2022 cohort is the first to graduate under this new program name.

Every year Green Foothills graduates a cohort of 20-25 community leaders across San Mateo, Santa Clara, and San Benito Counties, helping them to become more effective advocates. The program also serves as an entryway into local conservation movements for historically underrepresented communities.

This year’s 22-person cohort graduated on Saturday, August 6, after developing a variety of impressive campaign plans! Graduate Mary-Anna Cazarez worked on a campaign supporting Sacred Heart Community Service’s food waste, compost, and sustainability programs. Her work included developing and distributing a resource guide to implement a community-led composting project, and promoting a Composting Distribution Day to raise awareness regarding food waste.

“I’m a mathematician. I never thought of myself as a community leader, but being in the Leadership Program showed me that I was not alone and helped me put these ideas into realistic and strategic action,” she says.

To learn about the meaningful work that Green Foothills Leadership Program alumni are doing in our communities, join us on August 31 via Zoom at 6:00 p.m. for Inspiring Voices, Powerful Landscapes: Green Foothills Leadership Stories. Alumni and community members are invited to connect with each other as we learn about the inspiring work of local changemakers.

We are recruiting for the 2023 cohort, which will run January-August 2023. We encourage all interested candidates to apply regardless of financial means. Nearly full and partial scholarships are available.

Early applications accepted until October 31, 2022.

Apply Here