The city of Goleta won the 2024 Helen Putnam Award for Excellence in Enhancing Public Trust, Ethics, and Community Involvement category. For more information about the award program, visit calcities.org/helen-putnam-award-for-excellence.

There are many reasons why people don’t get involved in local government. Maybe they are busy and don’t know where to start. Maybe it’s because it can be downright intimidating.

Even in a young, tight-knit city like Goleta, walking into a council meeting alone can be uncomfortable — much less getting up and speaking. If you’re a council member or city commissioner, you probably felt that same discomfort and uncertainty early on! Maybe you still feel it today.

That was the motivation behind the creation of the LEAD Goleta Community Academy — short for Learn, Empower, Advocate, and Discuss — in 2019. The idea was to give residents in this scenic Central Coast town a front-row seat to how local government works, empowering them to get involved and become a part of the decision-making process.

“The experience has been so informative, engaging, and wonderful,” said Melissa Villa, a 2023 graduate and working mom. “It really has opened doors for me in ways in which I can be involved and show up as an advocate for the community.”

How it works

Over the course of six weeks, around 30 participants hear from the city manager, mayor, each council member, and other city officials about what makes the city run. The academy also includes tours of city facilities and a trivia game. But the most popular part is a mock council meeting where people play the roles of both city officials and public speakers against and in favor of a controversial ordinance proposal. The class ends with a graduation celebration.

Participants come from all different backgrounds, reflecting the make-up of a place locals affectionately call the Goodland. The academy typically includes high school and college students, retirees, business professionals, community partners, and Goleta enthusiasts. All are drawn to participate for different reasons, but everyone walks away feeling like ambassadors for the city due to all that they have learned.

“I joined the LEAD Goleta Academy to learn more about our city and how it all works,” said Gareth Kelly, a 2024 graduate who now serves on the city’s Public Engagement Commission. “Even though Goleta is still a young city it’s clear it has an amazing group of staff and leaders who care about the city, its people, and its natural and open spaces — things that also matter to me. Learning about what goes into running a city has been fascinating, and I would recommend the LEAD Goleta Academy to everyone.”

Expanding access and engagement

The academy was well-received in its first two years. The Goleta City Council decided to focus on offering the same experience to Spanish-speaking residents, who make up about a third of the city’s population.  

Moving to a bilingual academy aligned with the findings of a 2018 advisory group. This group of community-focused individuals was experienced in translation and interpretation, Spanish language engagement and advocacy, and serving the Spanish-speaking community. One of the group’s primary findings was the Spanish-speaking community in general is often not informed about what a city does, the services provided, and what is happening.

In 2022, the city hired a full-time Spanish engagement specialist. In 2023, it made the move to create a bilingual LEAD Goleta Community Academy.

The transition required translating all the class materials and providing simultaneous interpretation in each class. It also meant extensive outreach to the city’s Spanish-speaking residents — not only to extend the invitation but to make sure people felt genuinely included and comfortable participating.

Press releases, flyers, and social media posts had an impact. But in the end, it was the personal invites from the engagement specialist and community leaders that drew Spanish speakers to sign up for the class. 

The effort was well worth it. Of the first bilingual LEAD Goleta Class, six were Spanish speakers, and the next class had seven. Many of those graduates are now regularly seen at council meetings and events and have expressed an interest in getting more involved.

“I learned many things about the community I didn’t know before,” said Josefina Torrez, a 2024 Spanish-speaking graduate who operates a housekeeping business. “With the knowledge from this class, I can now go out more to explore our city and encourage my children to study for their future and a career here.”

The city wrapped up its fifth community academy and third bilingual class in February, with a record-breaking 34 participants, including five Spanish speakers. One graduate has already begun serving on the city’s Design Review Board.

“LEAD Goleta is a great program to introduce you to civic leadership in Goleta, the Goodland,” said David Rachford, a 2025 graduate and accountant. “It was an opportunity to learn about city programs, issues, and challenges, and celebrate the successes with the amazing team that makes things happen. I now feel more connected to our community, and I’ve lived here for 26 years.”

With such strong positive feedback, the city plans to continue the LEAD Goleta Bilingual Community Academy and find more innovative ways to ensure the entire community can be a part of shaping the city’s future.

“Thank you to the mayor, council, and city for taking note of us,” said Leonardo Dominguez, a 2024 graduate who also serves on a group that helps promote a healthy, drug-free life to the local Spanish community. “It’s important for Spanish speakers to be aware of what happens in our city.”

Kelly Hoover is the community relations manager for the city of Goleta. She can be reached at khoover@cityofgoleta.org or (805) 961-7507. Watch this video for an overview of the project.