What to Expect as a VCLA Participant
A unique and engaging experience, Ventura County Leadership Academy brings an unmatched depth of knowledge and local leadership perspective. This program includes:
- Ten Focus Sessions
Topics such as public safety, social services & healthcare, local government & the legislative process, education, housing & transportation, water & agriculture, economics, arts & culture, environment, infrastructure, and more.
- Cohort Ice-Breakers and Community Building
Get to know your fellow Cohort members - Leadership Training
- Community Explorations
Cohorts are divided into small groups and assigned a community to explore
- Trip to Sacramento
- Get Togethers with Cohort and Alumni
Optional monthly happy hours and annual mixers - Graduation Ceremony
Including certificates of commendation on behalf of VCLA and numerous elected officials
What is expected of you?
Each person who participates in the VCLA brings unique and valuable knowledge, skills, and experience to discussions about our community. With that in mind, during the time you spend in VCLA sessions, we ask that you:
- Participate at monthly focus sessions – Be present and engage in active listening, and consider ideas from different perspectives. Be open to your blind spots and mindful of the intersectionality of privilege and disadvantage. Discuss & ask questions of presenters utilizing the "VCLA introduction", and approach challenges from a place of curiosity.
- Attendance - Honor time commitments. Each VCLA session is packed with opportunities to learn, engage with our speakers and cohort members. Because of this, VCLA limits the number of absences to two (2) sessions throughout the program. Please refer to the session dates before you apply, as should you miss a combined total of more than two sessions, you will not graduate with your cohort.
- Engage with other cohort members throughout the year. Previous alumni have gone on to organize service projects or volunteer together as a team.
There is a $50 application fee and all applications are due by Friday, May 19, 2023 at 5:00 pm. Interviews are held via Zoom in June of 2023. Once accepted into the VCLA program, a tuition of $2,250 is due before the start of the program. Additional costs (travel, hotel, meals) for the Sacramento session in February are not included in the tuition costs and must be paid individually.
Scholarships are available through our Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and can be applied for once accepted into the program.