Leadership Academy

Every leadership journey begins with a spark. A moment when someone decides to step forward, take responsibility, and begin shaping the world around them.

The Catalyst Leadership Academy was created to nurture that spark. It is not simply a training program; it is a shared journey where students learn, practice, and ultimately become the leaders our community needs.

How We Shape Leaders

The Leadership Academy program is built around three practices that shape every part of the student's journey:

• Collaboration – Student leaders learn to build with and through others, listening, sharing responsibility, and leading as a team.

• Action – Leadership becomes real when students apply what they have learned to move ideas forward and create change within Catalyst and beyond.

• Reflection – Growth deepens through honest self-awareness, helping each student understand their strengths, values, and areas for growth.

  
  

Through Roundtables, Coaching Sessions, and Leadership Excursions, students develop skills in facilitation, problem solving, adaptability, and communication. More importantly, they learn how to lead with empathy, courage, and purpose, skills that prepare them not only for future roles but for a lifetime of leadership in service to others.

Commitment & Rhythm of the Program

Growth takes time, intention, and shared ownership. Each year, a new cohort of student leaders commits to a rhythm of learning and leadership that blends structure with discovery.

They take part in: 

• Bi-weekly Roundtable meetings and coaching sessions. 

• Monthly in-person events that serve as team-building or exposure outings (often student-planned). 

• Ongoing project work that advances Catalyst’s mission. 

• Focused preparation for the final presentation.

After six months, the students may join the Emerging Leaders Advisory Board, where they help guide the organization's future and strengthen Catalyst from within. Each student is paired with a mentor, fostering reflection and accountability throughout the year. Advisors and coaches walk alongside them, guiding but never overshadowing, because true leadership is discovered, not handed down.

Why It Matters

The Leadership Academy is more than a leadership curriculum. It is a space where young people test their potential, learn to trust themselves and others, and begin building the kind of resilient leadership our communities urgently need.

When a student steps into the role of facilitator, writer, or speaker, they aren’t just completing a program requirement. They are rehearsing for the leadership roles they will one day hold in workplaces, neighborhoods, and boardrooms. This experience builds the foundation for the Emerging Leaders Advisory Board, where students continue applying what they’ve learned to directly support Catalyst’s mission.

The Leadership Academy doesn’t exist for the sake of the Advisory Board, but the Advisory Board represents the next step in living out what the Academy teaches. It’s a space where youth leadership continues to evolve, offering insight and energy that strengthen Catalyst from within.

Looking ahead, the program will grow into a tiered experiential learning model that welcomes students earlier in high school. Older participants will mentor newer ones, creating a cycle of growth and shared leadership that keeps the Catalyst mission thriving through the next generation.

The spark that begins in the Leadership Academy continues to grow beyond the program. Each project, idea, and moment of courage shapes stronger, more confident young leaders who carry their growth into their schools, communities, and future careers.

As a grassroots organization, over 90% of our support comes from community members like you who believe in investing in the futures of youth. Your generosity fuels our mission to inspire hope, cultivate belonging, and build confidence while expanding pathways for Oakland youth. Join us today and be part of their story.