Community Advocates Leadership Academy Program

Decisionmakers pay attention when they hear from people in the communities they serve, yet effective citizen engagement, especially in land use planning, is a challenge for even the most experienced advocates. The Community Advocates Leadership Academy (CALA) is a ten-month civic-engagement training program for 30-35 emerging and existing change agents in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. CALA is geared toward people who want our region to be more sustainable, socially just, and healthier. CALA’s goal is to stimulate the local climate of civic activism in support of environmental sustainability, public health, and social justice.