1. What are the benefits of participating in Leadership Santa Cruz County?
You become a member of the best and largest set of leaders organized in Santa Cruz County. The network experiences have formed many friendships that extend for the rest of their lives. You also learn about Santa Cruz County, how it operates, who are the movers and shakers, and how to get involved. Each class training day is devoted to a community theme or set of themes:
History
Education
Business
Environment
Housing Crisis
Diversity
Tourism
Pajaro Valley
The Arts
Local & Regional Economics
Health & Human Services
Government
Agriculture
Criminal Justice System
Land Use Issues
San Lorenzo Valley
Water Resources
Tours & Field Trips
You will learn about the complexity of California's second smallest county and come to realize that solutions to community challenges require well-informed leaders.
The fact that most of the new class for Leadership Santa Cruz County is recruited by Program alumni from among their friends and colleagues is an indicator of how positively graduates feel about their Leadership training experience.
2. Who is in the class?
People like and unlike yourself. You will make many friends with your classmates, and these friendships will last a lifetime. People come from all walks of life and from all over the county. Diversity is a population matrix in Santa Cruz County as you will learn first hand in your own class. Leadership Santa Cruz County is for adults of any age. Our youngest graduate was 18 and our oldest was 68. Class size averages 50-60 participants. Approximately 1,000 individuals have graduated from the Program since it was founded in 1985.
3. Who does the training?
The training program is facilitated by the LSCC Executive Director and is overseen by a LSCC Board of Directors. Training is conducted by over 100 community members who are leaders in their fields. Many are graduates of Leadership Santa Cruz County or have made presentations to several Leadership classes. They provide lively and authoritative presentations, panels, tours, and site visits.
4. Where does Leadership Santa Cruz County meet?
The class meets at locations from the San Lorenzo Valley to the Pajaro Valley and everywhere in between. It never meets twice in the same place. Sessions start in the morning at a site important to the theme of the training day. You will tour by bus or car pool during the afternoon and meet key individuals at their work locations who explain what they do and why it is important to the community.
5. How's the food?
You will eat well. Hot drinks and a morning snack is served at the beginning of each class day. It includes baked goods provided by Beckmann's Old World Bakery, fruit, juice, tea and fresh-brewed coffee. Lunch is provided by sponsoring organizations and varies from box lunches to buffets to full-service sit-down meals. Vegetarian meals are available.
6. How long is the Leadership Santa Cruz County program, and when does it start?
The Program extends from mid-September to graduation in mid-June. The complete class schedule is available on this website. Class days occur at 3-4 week intervals on Fridays and run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There will be 10 training days, conducted on Fridays, plus a two-day Leadership retreat in mid-October.
7. Must I attend every class day, and are there extra-curricular requirements?
Attend as many class days as possible. We recognize that in today's fast-paced and competitive environment, it is not always feasible to attend each and every class day. Individuals who attend 8 or more class days will receive a Certificate of Graduation at the end of the year, and those who attend 7 or less will receive a Certificate of Participation. You may make up missed classes in following years as an alum.
LSCC class members will be required to participate in one of three projects during the class year. Class members will team up as follows:
LSCC class members will be encouraged to participate in a class project. The projects are designed by class members and submitted to the Executive Director for presentation and approval by the LSCC Board of Directors. The Executive Director will track performance and support the accomplishment of those projects approved by the Board. At the end of the year a summary of the project will be submitted and printed in the Class Yearbook. Each project will also be celebrated at the Class Graduation in June of each year.
8. What are the application deadlines?
The final deadline for the next class is July 31st of each year. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis up to 55. Beyond that, applications will be placed on a waiting list.
9. How much does the Program cost, and are scholarships available?
Tuition is $875. Typically, a person sponsored by an employer pays $60 and the employer pays $815.
Scholarships are available. Anyone who needs assistance may receive a partial scholarship by writing a request explaining the need on the application. The LSCC Board of Directors decides scholarships awarded each year.
Time payments are available to anyone who requests them.
10. How can I receive an application for Leadership Santa Cruz County?
You can download a PDF version (see link below) of the Leadership application (you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to see this form). Or call Dave Vincent, Executive Director, at 831-662-3881 and leave a message listing your name, address, phone number, and e-mail. You can also send email to Dave at leadershipscc@cruzio.com An application packet will be mailed to you within 24 hours of receipt of your message.
