Welcome

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. Class members 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:

 

Housing and Economics, Local Government, Health and Human Services, Criminal Justice System, Education, Business and Tourism, Agriculture, Arts and Culture, and the Environment.

 

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 each new Leadership Santa Cruz County class is recruited by program alumni is an indicator of how positively graduates feel about their Leadership training experience.

 

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 75. Class size averages 45-52 participants. Approximately 1,700 individuals have graduated from the Program since it was founded in 1985.

 

Who does the training?

The training program is facilitated by LSCC's Executive Director, Ryan Coonerty, and is supported by the 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.

 

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 carpool and meet key individuals - leaders and organization representatives - at their work locations who explain what they do and why it is important to the community.

 

How’s the food?

You will eat well. Hot drinks and a morning snack are served at the beginning of each class day. It includes baked goods, fruit, and fresh-brewed coffee. Lunch is provided by sponsoring organizations and varies from box lunches to buffets. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available.

 

How long is the Leadership Santa Cruz County program and when does it start?

The Program extends from September to graduation in mid-June with an orientation evening in August. The complete class schedule for our current class can be found here. Class days occur at 3-4 week intervals on Fridays and run from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. There are 9 training days, plus an exciting two-day team-building Leadership retreat in mid-September.

 

How demanding are the class days?
This can be a mentally and physically challenging experience. LSCC involves a lot of walking tours so participants can expect to cover up to a mile on foot each day. We will discuss difficult subjects like criminal justice and homelessness. One element of the Leadership Retreat is an adventure tour in the redwood canopy. Your harness will *always* be clipped into a safety line and there will be experienced guides with you, but you may opt-out of this if you choose.

 

Must I attend every class day, and are there extra-curricular requirements?

Attending all classes is important. Individuals who attend 9 or more class days will receive a Certificate of Graduation at the end of the year, and those who attend 8 or less will receive a Certificate of Participation. Expect to do about 3 hours of homework before each class day, which may include reviewing reports, news articles or podcasts. You may also be asked to present to the class about your area of expertise and participate in user-feedback sessions. 

 

What are the application deadlines?

The final deadline to apply for the next class is April 24, 2026. Applicants will be notified by May 28.  

 

How much does the Program cost, and are scholarships available?

Tuition is $1850. Partial scholarships are available. Anyone who needs assistance may receive a partial scholarship by writing a request explaining the need to ryan.coonerty@leadershipsantacruzcounty.org. We receive many requests for a limited amount of scholarship funds, so there is no guarantee a scholarship request will be granted. We do not offer full-ride scholarships. Payment plans are also available by request. 

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How can I receive an application for Leadership Santa Cruz County?

You can apply online or download a PDF version on our registration page. 

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I have a criminal history. Will I be disqualified from participating in the program? 
Not necessarily. You will be requested for additional information about the nature of the charge, the gravity of the offense, how long ago it occurred, and the status of the case. We ask this question to ensure the safety of all participants in the program. 

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