Rising Leaders of Oakland | Jahzara: Finding Her Voice

Sometimes, leadership begins in the most unexpected places.

In a classroom, a conversation, or a community that believes in you. The Leadership Academy at Catalyst creates that community for students across Oakland, helping them learn, grow, and lead with confidence.

For Jahzara, the Academy became more than a program. It became a place to rediscover herself, connect with others, and grow into the leader she’s bound to be.

About the Leadership Academy

Catalyst Youth Network’s Leadership Academy equips young people with tools for success such as communication, teamwork, and confidence through mentorship and real-world learning. Students meet regularly to build not only their skills but also their sense of purpose and connection to their community.

A Heart for Growth and Community

For Jahzara, joining the Leadership Academy was more than just another opportunity. It was a turning point. She saw it as a chance to grow, give back, and walk in the footsteps of those who had inspired her.

“Knowing that Robert's also a leader and wanting to help people in the community is something that I'm also very invested in. I was just like, yeah, let me help him out. Let me help out the kids in my school.”

Her mentor’s example encouraged her to lead by serving others. From the start, she knew exactly what she wanted to gain and what she wanted to give through the experience.

“A specific goal I had in mind was mainly investing in my skill set to start working and my goals”

That motivation came from a deeply personal place and her growth was proof that change is possible with persistence, belief, and support.

Jahzara’s commitment to give back was rooted in her own experiences growing up. As a student, she sometimes needed extra support in subjects like math and reading, and she understands firsthand how meaningful that help can be. Those early challenges shaped her sense of responsibility to show up for others, especially for students who may be navigating difficulties at home or simply need someone to believe in them. What began as personal experience has become a clear purpose. Jahzara has made it her mission to support and uplift kids in her community, ensuring they receive the encouragement and guidance she once needed herself.

“I want to help the kids that need it…It's more of us working on ourselves and what we can do to help ourselves and then help the community."

Through this, Jahzara realized that leadership begins with personal change and grows stronger through service to others.

Lessons That Shape a Leader

The Leadership Academy became a space where Jahzara learned through connection, reflection, and accountability. A place that challenged her to grow both personally and professionally. 

She emphasized how she developed a deeper understanding of herself. Through trial and reflection, she discovered skills and practices that are important to her growth as an individual, and as a leader. That awareness became her anchor, teaching her about structure and self-discipline as essential parts of leadership.

But perhaps, the most meaningful part of her journey came from the relationships she built along the way.

“I feel like every time I talk to any of them [Leadership Academy students], I always have a new perspective or a way of bettering myself. Especially the Yosemite trip that we just had... it was a very connecting moment and it was almost as if we were family.”

In those shared experiences, she found a sense of belonging that fueled her growth.

“Anytime I've talked to these people, I've felt better and confident about myself overall… It's just like one of those things that makes your day really light.”

Finding Her Voice

As Jahzara’s confidence grew, so did her courage to step up and speak out. She began embracing opportunities that pushed her out of her comfort zone and into spaces where her voice could create real change. She mentioned:

“In my senior year, we had a school board meeting…my school put me up on the stand to speak up for things or be a public speaker. So I went to the school board and I spoke up about things we needed in our school and about the program that Catalyst is running.”

Through these moments, she learned that leadership means communicating with honesty, learning from experience, and stepping forward even when it feels new.

One of Jahzara’s biggest goals during the program was to strengthen her communication skills. She wanted to learn how to speak up with confidence, build meaningful relationships, and connect with new people, and through her time in the Leadership Academy, she found the tools and encouragement to do exactly that.

She also began to understand that leadership is also about empathy. Learning how to connect with different people in different ways.

“There are different ways you could say the same thing to different people…trying to learn how to do that was a very interesting thing.”

Reflections and Looking Ahead

When asked what she’d tell other students about joining the Leadership Academy, Jahzara’s advice comes from a place of genuine gratitude and experience.

“The Leadership Academy is a great way to find a sense of self. If you don't know what you're doing, but you need a job, and you want to learn how to get a job, and you want to learn how to network and communicate, then the Leadership Academy is something that you should join."

She believes that growth happens when you open yourself up to new ideas and new people. And for anyone who’s hesitant or shy, she offers one last encouragement:

“You get new insight and new perspectives. Finding new ways to communicate is always great…And if you're a shy kid, you should definitely join the Leadership Academy.”

Be Part of the Change

Jahzara’s story reminds us that when young people are given opportunities to grow, they don’t just find their voices, they use it to create change in their schools, communities, and beyond.

As we close out the year, stories like Jahzara’s remind us what becomes possible when young people have a community that believes in their potential. This season, we invite you to stand with us in cultivating that hope. Your gift to our 2025 Year End Campaign will help more students step into their strengths, discover their purpose, and rise as leaders who uplift their communities. When hope grows, leaders rise. Help us grow that hope today by supporting Catalyst Youth Network’s mission to empower the next generation.