The city of Vacaville won the 2024 Ruth Vreeland Award for Engaging Youth in City Government. Judith Franco is the youth development manager for the city of Vacaville. She can be reached at Judith.Franco@cityofvacaville.com or (707) 449-5512. Watch this video for an overview of the project. 

Vacaville, a city of about 102,000 in Solano County, once faced a common problem: a lack of meaningful employment for young people. To combat this issue, the city partnered with the Vacaville Unified School District to create the Summer at City Hall program, a four-week job training and civic engagement initiative that equips youth with job readiness skills and a deeper understanding of local government.

Launched in 2018, Summer at City Hall offers high school juniors and seniors a unique blend of classroom education and hands-on experience through internships in various city departments. The school district provides a teacher to guide the students and five units of elective credit. The city provides each student with a stipend and a Chromebook to keep, eliminating barriers for those who might otherwise miss out on such opportunities.

“It is about more than job skills; it’s about fostering a sense of civic engagement and pride, providing a deeper understanding of how local government operates and affecting change as an active member of the community,” said Aaron Busch, who retired as city manager in May. “Participants graduate from the program with an understanding of local government, and city staff gain insight into the next generation.”

“We’re not just preparing these students for jobs”

The program’s curriculum is rich and varied, featuring sessions on resume writing, interview techniques, financial literacy, and civics. Students also participate in a mock trial at the Solano County Superior Court and a mock city council meeting, where they debate previously considered agenda items. The activities give participants a holistic view of civic operations and responsibilities.

“Our objective is to broaden the horizons of these young people, giving them a well-rounded experience and demonstrating to them the diverse career paths available within the public sector,” Mayor John Carli said. “It’s about creating a sense of belonging, giving them confidence, and providing these spaces with meaningful contributions.”

Since inception, participants have interned in every city department. These internships provide invaluable work experience, helping students build their resumes and gain professional skills.

Rafael “Rafa” Espinoza, a 2024 program graduate, will attend Solano Community College this fall to study psychology. He looks forward to helping others in his future career. “It was an amazing opportunity to gain insight into the different departments that make up our local government as well as foster friendships with the other interns and the people in my department,” Espinoza said.  

As of 2025, 142 students have completed the program successfully, many of whom have gone on to college. Some have secured employment with the city.

“The Summer at City Hall program was a fantastic experience,” said Anthony, a 2025 program graduate.  “I learned how the city functions and it was really interesting to see how each department operates. I got the opportunity to meet many city officials including council members and the mayor! This program also helped me get a job in the city manager’s office. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone interested in local government. It’s an amazing experience and taught me so many important life skills!”

“We’re not just preparing these students for jobs; we’re preparing them to be active, informed citizens,” said Chief of Police Chris Polen. “The program has been particularly beneficial for our underprivileged youth, offering them a chance to engage in professional environments that might otherwise be out of reach.”

As the city continues to grow and evolve, programs like Summer at City Hall are vital to building bridges to a more engaged and capable community. By addressing future employment challenges and offering long-term civic engagement prospects, the program helps ensure that the next generation is ready to take the reins in shaping Vacaville’s future.