Academies
Educating Members to Serve Effectively
California Leadership Academy (CLA) – Beginning Winter 2024
Coordinators – Ed Gomez and Kristie Iwamoto, CTA Support Staff – Frank Oppedisano
CLA Application

Developing Statewide Leaders
- Created by CCA leadership, the California Leadership Academy is designed to train faculty interested in leadership positions beyond their local chapters (such as CCA Board members).
- CLA meets over the course of three CCA conferences.
- Small classes of 12 strong union advocates are chosen to participate.
- CLA members learn
- To debunk negative stereotypes of unions
- To network with various leadership groups in California
- Public speaking skills
- To run effective meetings
- To address threats and opportunities facing community colleges.
Congratulations to the CLA Graduate Class of 2022
Sam Abbas – Saddleback College, Heidi Ahders – Mendocino Community College, Suzanne Engelhardt – Long Beach City College, Mary Lawler – San Bernardino Valley College, Tracey Redden – College of the Sequoias, Lorraine Slattery – Mt. San Jacinto College, Emily Woolery – Mt. San Antonio College
Building Strong Locals (BSL)
It’s more important than ever for chapter union leaders to be knowledgeable and prepared for addressing the needs of our members. Fortunately, through its Building Strong Locals Academy, CCA is doing just that. Focused on strengthening local chapters, the primary goal of the Academy is to educate members to serve effectively at the local chapter level with confidence and a working knowledge of their rights and responsibilities. Approximately 20 faculty members from our local CCA chapters are chosen annually to participate in the Academy. These candidates will begin their exclusive training at the Winter CCA Conference, and then participate in training sessions parallel to the Spring and Fall CCA conferences. The academy was initially funded by a grant from the NEA, but is currently funded solely by CCA.
BSL 2025 Application – Available October 2024
Congratulations to the recent graduating class of our Building Strong Locals Academy
Sam Abbas – Saddleback College, Wonderful Nancy Allah – Saddleback College, Karen Beck – Rio Hondo College, Dean Caivano – Merced College, Suzanne Engelhardt – Long Beach City College, Adam Fong – Merced College, Megan Igo – Merced College, Kevin Leeds – Rancho Santiago College, Timothy Linehan – College of the Sequoias, Marina Mc Laughlin – Mt San Antonio College, Sierra Moussatche – Coast Community College Association, Kim-Leiloni Nyguyen – Mt San Antonio College, David Rentz – Chaffey College, Dennis Sandoval – San Bernardino Valley College, Kirk Thomsen – College of the Siskiyous, Amber Wallick – San Bernardino Valley College