Signature Leadership Program

Leadership Vallejo is a personal and professional development program designed as a highly interactive learning experience to motivate participants to develop and enhance the quality of their leadership skills.

Leadership Vallejo educates and trains future leaders.
Each year, we select 25 class members from our richly diverse and multicultural city. Selected participants meet once every month for nine months. Each session is a day-long themed program — packed with information, education, and training.

Participants undertake personal study. You will start by gaining an in-depth understanding of your personality, aspirations, strengths, and areas for growth. Then you will embark on a community-centric project of design with other participants in a small designated team.

Who Should Apply?

Selection Criteria

  • A strong interest in making a community impact and to serve as a leader for our community.

  • A passion for supporting the community, which is demonstrated through past involvement in community activities.

  • Currently holding a leadership position or demonstrates a potential for advancement into leadership positions within private-sector corporations, community-based organizations, government and/or public office.

  • Able to contribute meaningfully to class discussions through individual life experiences.

  • An understanding of the time commitment to attend regular monthly sessions and the extent of which depends on the project chosen by your assigned team.

  • Based in Vallejo, California.

Monthly Sessions: September-June

The first session is 2-days in September. The cohort then meets once a month (Friday 8:00AM to 5:00PM).

Be prepared to dedicate one weekday each month for a day-long themed meeting of information and training. Participants will also devote additional time to work in small teams — each focused on a community-need project. Learn more about the curriculum below.

Leadership Learning Projects

Leadership learning projects or community-need projects focus on community or volunteer organizations. Participants will demonstrate their leadership skills through activities that incorporate teamwork with decision-making exercises and working collaboratively, as well as gain experience working with diverse personalities. 

Session 1: September
Leadership Retreat

Leaders’ Academy

  • Meet for a two-day leaders retreat for a program overview.

  • Meet fellow classmates and build networking skills.

  • Facilitated skill sessions with techniques for working constructively with other types of leaders.

  • Meet Leadership Vallejo (LV) Board Members. Gain insight into Vallejo’s opportunities and challenges for these small-group class projects.

  • Teams will be assigned for community-need project.

Session 2: October
History Day

Exploring Vallejo’s Past, Present, and Future

  • Explore Vallejo’s vibrant history though guided field trips to the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, Mare Island, and more.

  • Guest speakers share current trends and demographics.

  • May also include discussions on the future of Vallejo in Solano County and the greater Bay Area with local officials.

Session 3: November
Education Day

Educational Fabric of Vallejo

  • Gain insights into the various levels of education in Vallejo, including K-12, community college, and university-level educational opportunities.

  • Learn about the challenges and achievements of each level of education in Vallejo, and an understanding of various aspects of education in Vallejo.

  • Tours can include Solano Community College-Vallejo Campus, Touro University California, California Maritime Academy and the Golden Bear Training ship.

Session 4: December
Government Day

Government By and For The People

  • Includes interaction and panel discussions with local and regional political figures, with activities designed to provide insight into the election process, city and regional budget issues, and local government operations.

  • This session can include a mock city council meeting, panels of our City leaders, and presentations by county supervisors.

Session 5: January
Economic Development Day

Economic Development and Revitalization

  • Develop an understanding of economic development and revitalization in action.

  • Includes tours or presentations of current development projects in Vallejo, including updates from City staff on the status of development/redevelopment in Vallejo.

  • Recognized leaders in the field of redevelopment discuss trends in both local and regional economic development.

Session 6: February
Health & Human Services Day

Pathways to a Healthy and Whole Community

  • Designed to give participants some in-depth education on those working with the underserved in the community.

  • Participants learn about services our local hospitals provide to our community, and the challenges they face.

  • Learn about nonprofits serving the homeless, those struggling with mental illness, domestic violence, and issues that affect families and individuals in the community.

  • Learn about the services available to those in need.

  • Hear about the trends in our county as well as the outreach programs available to combat health issues.

Session 7: March
Environment Day

Striving to be Environment Friendly

  • An overview of environmental activism in Vallejo, the causes they have been involved in over the past and the impact on the Vallejo of today.

  • Field trips to local businesses and/or facilities striving to support/protect our environment.

  • Learn how our City is striving to be environment friendly.

Session 8: April
Arts & Tourism Day

Tourism and Vallejo Community Arts

  • The emphasis on this session is tying together Vallejo’s unique regional location and access to tourism venues in and around our City and how tourism impacts our economic development.

  • Past sessions have included Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, gallery and museum tours, presentations by visual and performing artists, and information on local community art groups.

Session 9: May
Safety Day

  • Participants will have the opportunity to spend the day with our local Fire and Police Department representatives.

  • Learn first hand how these departments work, their accomplishments and challenges.

  • Classes have included tours of these departments and their training facilities.

Open House: June
Graduation Day

All are welcome!

  • This is open to the public, anyone and everyone are welcome! This is to highlight the participants’ achievements and celebrate the Leadership Vallejo cohort.

  • All group members should attend to present their discoveries, learnings, and results from the team-based community-centric project.

Accepting Applications
Become a Leader!

Gain the skills you need to make that change you’ve wished to see in Vallejo and our community! We need you today, for a better tomorrow.