April 23: Adaptability is the name of the game for the world right now, and the Youth Leadership Academy has had to do exactly that. Due to the impacts of Covid-19, SACOG and Pro Youth & Families have followed local and state orders and began working from home and cancelled all in-person sessions for the program. However, the YLA will continue virtually and will still be a place for students from across the region to connect with each other and learn about different regional and local topics that impact their communities. 

The program skipped the March session, but used the time to transition to a virtual program. YLA went from monthly sessions to bi-weekly, two-hour sessions in order to connect more frequently. In April students learned about Economic Development and Transportation. 

The Economic Development session featured a presentation from Sacramento International Airport staff where they went over the economic impacts the airport has on our local and regional economy, and the effects of a world-wide economic disruption like we are now living through.

Transportation was featured in April’s second session and welcomed SACOG Director and Elk Grove City Councilmember Darren Suen. Director Suen spoke to the students about leadership, the links between transportation and land use, the impacts of Covid-19 on transit, and the transportation challenges in Elk Grove. After hearing from Director Suen, students participated in a virtual mock Planning Commission Meeting where they discussed a potential project development in a transit oriented development zone. 

May will continue with virtual sessions where students will explore career options and financial literacy training.