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Purpose
The San Jose Leadership Academy (SJLA) is a program for high school juniors that deepens their community awareness and develops their leadership skills. In this nine-month program, students identified with strong leadership potential get an in-depth look at our community and learn how to take an active role in effecting change. SJLA is a collaborative partnership with the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, the San Jose Leadership Council (SJLC) and the San Jose Unified School District. What community leaders are saying. . .
|  The San Jose Leadership Academy opens our student's eyes and hearts to the intimate parts of the community in which they live.
SJLA lets them know they can be a change agent and that we expect them to be.
And the best part . . . I get to work with Rick [Holden] to start them on their journey!
Karen Fuqua (01), San Jose Unified School District Public Engagement
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High school juniors are selected from Gunderson High School, Willow Glen High School, San Jose High Academy, Pioneer High School, Leland High School, Lincoln High School and Downtown College Prep. SJLA participants will:
Learn more about the diversity of cultures, people and programs within San Jose;
Develop individual and team problem-solving and leadership skills; and
Develop solutions and ideas to improve our community through interaction with developing and established leaders. Selection
The 30 participants are selected on character, leadership potential and a strong interest in the community but may not necessarily have held leadership positions in the past.
What students are saying. . .
| Its been five years now, and I still find myself coming back to my SJLA experiences on a regular basis, either in conversations with my family or when Im following local news. Im a San Jose native, but had never been exposed to many of the activities or facilities we visited. The field trips got me out of my familiar neighborhood, and the discussions among the students and with the community members helped me to see the tremendous diversity of ideas and experiences in our city. It also enhanced my existing passion for community service by helping me to realize that all these great things were being done by real individuals, not just the proverbial they, and I could be one such individual if I chose to be. It makes me very happy to hear that the SJLA is still active and providing that kind of perspective to each new class of juniors.
Peace,
Jennifer Merriam
SJLA Class of 2004
(In fourth year at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, majoring in Graphic Communication) |
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