Training new leaders
A group of 20 civic-minded young San Diegans don鈥檛 know if they鈥檙e going to change the world, but they want to give it their best shot.
They鈥檝e been gathering together every other Saturday to hone their civic engagement skills through a series of lectures, discussions and exercises that organizers say prepares them to become community leaders.
The current class is the fourth offered by the San Diego Leadership Alliance class, which organizes the five-month program.
Many of its participants are already working or active in progressive-like causes, such as 25-year-old Rebekah Hook, an Arizona native who works in public policy at San Diego鈥檚 Collaborative Services, Inc.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great opportunity to cultivate the skills I want to have to make on an impact on the community,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 do see myself as a leader, and I want to help build a better San Diego.鈥
Like many in her class, Hook is already accomplished. She has a graduate degree in political science from Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash.
During her college years, she also organized student supporters of Hillary Clinton鈥檚 2008 presidential campaign and served in leadership roles in the school鈥檚 sustainability office and LBGT club.