Using a grant from the California Board of State and Community Corrections, the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety (DPS) developed a Youth Leadership Academy program for engaging youth in grades 7–9. The Youth Leadership Academy is a two-week program where participants learn valuable skills such as communication and conflict resolution, character building, decision-making, and goal setting. They also receive information about cybersafety, bullying, and lifetime fitness, and are able to interact one-on-one with public safety officers to discuss law enforcement in their community.

The DPS hosted its third annual Youth Leadership Academy in June 2019. Twenty-seven eligible students participated and, along with their families, attended a graduation ceremony hosted at the city’s newest fire station.

Four students from the academy made speeches at graduation and made the following comments about their experience:

• "We all have the potential to become responsible and effective leaders in our community. This is what DPS Youth Leadership Academy has taught us."
• "All the activities we did allowed us to better comprehend what leadership and being a leader was all about."
• "Looking back, I realize that any person of any age can be a leader."
• "This academy has taught me to think outside the box and become more confident. In all, my time at the Youth Leadership Academy has taught me many skills that I can use lifelong and even when determining my career path."

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the Youth Leadership Academy program was temporarily suspended. However, the program was so popular and successful that the DPS is planning to restart it in 2023, pending funding availability.

For information about the Youth Leadership Academy, contact Elaine Ketell at 408-730-7234 or eketell@sunnyvale.ca.gov.

Photos courtesy of the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety.

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