Six-Week Course Begins January 15, 2026
Applications are now open for City of Goleta’s award-winning LEAD Goleta Bilingual Community Academy which begins Thursday, January 15, 2026. LEAD stands for Learn, Empower, Advocate and Discuss. Space is limited, so don’t wait to apply for this six-week bilingual class which provides a unique up-close look at how local government works. Priority is given to Goleta residents, but the program is open to any resident of Santa Barbara County. We strongly encourage high school and college students to apply. Watch our short video promo to see why you should apply; the video is also available in Spanish.
Take advantage of this great opportunity to learn how the City is run, in a small, intimate setting of around 30 participants. You will walk away from the experience more connected to the City with a deeper understanding of how to get involved in shaping the future of Goleta – whether it’s staying informed, volunteering, applying for a Board or Commission, or even running for City Council.
See for yourself what makes this program so special by watching our video recap of the 2025 LEAD Goleta Bilingual Community Academy.
The 2026 LEAD Goleta Academy begins on January 15 and takes place on six consecutive Thursday evenings from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. Most classes are held in Council Chambers at Goleta City Hall (130 Cremona Drive). You must be able to attend all six classes to participate. The course ends on February 19 with a celebratory graduation ceremony at the Goleta Community Center.
This will be the fourth time that LEAD Goleta will be offered in Spanish, and the sixth overall Community Academy.
LEAD Goleta received the prestigious Cal Cities 2024 Helen Putnam Award for Excellence in the category of Enhancing Public Trust, Ethics, and Community Involvement. Learn more here.
We can’t wait to meet the next LEAD Goleta Bilingual Community Academy class in January. For more information and to apply, go to www.CityofGoleta.org/LEADGoleta.
LEAD Goleta 2025 Graduating Class with the Goleta City Council