Eligibility Applicants should be between the age of 14-18 years old/ anywhere between incoming high school freshman or recent high school graduate. Priority will be given to people that live in Dr. Cruz-Boone’s elected district. All participants need to be available and commit to at least one day of precinct walking and 17 other hours of training and leadership work.
Requirements To be selected for the leadership academy, each cohort participant will be required to fill out application and take part in panel interview (in person or on zoom). If selected for cohort, leaders will be required between June 10-August 10 to devote and verify 20 hours of work and training.
The Dr. Chris Cruz-Boone Leadership Academy cohort 1 are suggested to attend the four provided education sessions. As part of their 20 hours, each leader will draw on their own strengths and design a leadership project they pitch and complete during the summer months (ex: campaign t-swift Friendship bracelets, commercial design and creation, organizing house meetings, social media editing etc). The cohort is invited to attend an optional formal luncheon August 10, 2024 as the guest of Dr. Cruz-Boone.
At the completion of the summer, each leader that completes their 20 hours, will earn a personal reference letter from the advisory board and $200 stipend for their efforts. Those hours can be completed across four areas:
Leadership Training -The program will include four different educational sessions including experts on topics on designing leadership projects, the San Joaquin Central Valley history, community challenges, and embracing your own talents. These workshops will be interactive and students will be expected to turn on cameras and engage in chatbox. In some instances, these hours can be replaced with face-to-face interaction or mentor meetings.
Leadership in Practice- Participants in the Dr. Chris Cruz-Boone Leadership Academy will receive time to independently develop a projects. They will also be given chance to complete hours by volunteering at community events as an ambassador for the Cruz-Boone campaign.
Chris Cruz-Boone Campaign Support – Various opportunities such as phone banking or text banking, attending community panels on issues student cares about (history, climate, homelessness, reproductive justice etc), tabling at community events, walking precincts, writing postcards, organizing an event, sorting data etc.
Precinct Walking or House Meetings-A historic practice in the valley is “house meetings” which are when likeminded folks informally met up and talk about what matters for their community. Each academy leader will learn about the history of house meetings and coordinate a house meeting or do one Saturday of precinct walking for the Dr. Cruz-Boone campaign. Details and walking maps for each person will be provided in weekly email updates.
About the Team
Unlike traditional summer internships, the Dr. Cruz-Boone Leadership Academy Advisory Board aim to empower youth to harness their personal strengths and educate them to be better leaders for their community. Youth Leadership Academy leaders will work with a mentor, receive written feedback and learn about the history of local movements through educational workshops. The curriculum and mentorship is overseen and designed by the Youth Leadership Academy
