For over 20 years, the LEAD Program has trained students to be conscientious and responsible leaders in advocacy, policy, and service. Through a comprehensive leadership course that spans from Spring through Summer, students undergo leadership and professional development trainings, gain real-life, on the job experience in a summer internship, and connect with peers and local professionals, including community leaders, elected officials, and government staff. Throughout the program, students receive guidance, mentorship and support from their program supervisor and internship office mentor. Students also work together to coordinate and execute an impact project that addresses a community issue.
“They connected me with civic leaders and enabled me to ask them questions, build personal relationship, and gain mentors. I learned about different career pathways in public policy, advocacy and service, and built a base of people to support me as I build my pathway.”
-Disha Banik Intern for Kaiser Permanente
“During my first experiences in a politician’s office exploring the world of political science, one thing became very clear to me: Politicians live an enormously busy life. The office I worked in, while calm and quiet, was a strong support team. Our responsibility was to make sure the politician we worked under was prepared to serve its constituents.”
Sameep Tandon Intern for Assemblymember Sally Lieber
Leadership and Professional Development
Leadership and Professional Development
- Students participate in 9 days of training in leadership, professionalism, social justice, government processes, and more.
- Trainings build foundation for civic and social awareness, engagement and participation.
- Students connect with guest speakers, community leaders, and their peers.
Community Impact Project
Community Impact Project
- Students are placed in an government or community-based office to complete a 10 week internship.
- Students serve a minimum of 100-hours in their internship office, and develop work-place skills in a professional setting.
- Students are trained to register new voters and attend voter registration events.
Government and Advocacy Internships
Government and Advocacy Internship
- Students design and execute a community impact project that addresses an issue or need in the community.
- Students gain experience in project management, logistics, and collaboration.
Important Dates for LEAD 2020
Application Distributed: December 2019
Application Due: February 21, 2020
Field Trips and Events
Voter Registration Events: June 18 & July 23, 2020
California State Capitol: June 2020
NBC Bay Area: TBA
Santa Clara County Family Justice Center Courthouse: TBA
Additional Opportunities: TBA
Tentative Training Dates
LEAD Program Interviews: March 7, 2020
Acceptance Announcements: March 9 – 13, 2020
Training 1: March 21, 2020
Training 2: April 4, 2020
Training 3: April 25, 2020
Training 4: May 16, 2020
Training 5: June 13, 2020
Training 6: June 27, 2020
Training 7: July 18, 2020
Training 8: August 1, 2020
Graduation / Last Day of Program: August 8, 2020
Program dates may be subject to change.
Partnerships With the Community
In the 20 years that the program has been operating, LEAD has partnered with 100+ different government and community based offices to place students in summer internships. These partnerships change students lives by offering them professional experience and empowering them to take part in the field of public service. Thank you to the following community partners who make LEAD possible:
Alameda County Supervisor Alice Lai-Bitker
Asian Americans for Community Involvement
Asian Law Alliance (ALA)
Asian Liver Center
Assemblymember Alberto Torrico
Assemblymember Ash Kalra
Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski
Assemblymember Carol Liu
Assemblymember Carole Migden
Assemblymember Fiona Ma
Assemblymember Evan Low
Assemblymember Ira Ruskin
Assemblymember Joe Coto
Assemblymember Kansen Chu
Assemblymember David Chiu
Assemblymember Kevin Shelley
Assemblymember Manny Diaz
Assemblymember Nora Campos
Assemblymember Paul Fong
Assemblymember Rebecca Cohn
Assemblymember Sally Lieber
Assemblymember Sandre Swanson
Assemblymember Simon Salinas
Assemblymember Ted Lempert
Assemblymember Warren Furutani
Assemblymember Wilma Chan
Community Health Partnership (CHP)
Congressmember Mike Honda
Congressmember Pete Stark
Congressmember Zoe Lofgren
City Year
East Palo Alto Community Service Department Mobile Recreation Program
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor Gray Davis
Justice At Work Law Group
Kollaboration SF
Oakland Chamber of Commerce
Project Sentinel
Redwood City Office of the City Clerk
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newson
San Jose City Council Linda LeZotte
San Jose City Councilmember Ash Kalra
San Jose City Councilmember Cindy Chavez
San Jose City Councilmember Forrest Williams
San Jose City Councilmember Kansen Chu
San Jose City Councilmember Nancy Pyle
San Jose City Councilmember Pete Constant
San Jose City Councilmember Raul Peralez
San Jose City Councilmember Rose Herrera
San Jose City Councilmember Sergio Jimenez
San Jose City Councilmember Sam Liccardo
San Jose City Councilmember Sylvia Arenas
San Jose City Councilmember Xavier Campos
San Jose Housing Department
San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed
San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales
San Jose Strong Neighborhoods Initiative
San Jose Vice Mayor Judy Chirco
San Jose Vice Mayor Madison Nguyen
San Jose Vice Mayor Magdalena Carrasco
Santa Clara County Office of Education
Santa Clara County Office of Women’s Policy
Santa Clara County Supervisor Blanca Alvarado
Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez
Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese
Santa Clara County Supervisor Don Gage
Santa Clara County Supervisor Liz Kniss
Santa Clara County Supervisor Pete McHugh
Santa Clara Hep B Free
Santa Clara Office of Affordable Housing
Second Harvest Food Bank
Senator Diane Feinstein
Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network (SIREN)
Silicon Valley Education Foundation
Silicon Valley Talent Partnership
Somos Mayfair
State Senator Abel Maldonado
State Senator Bob Wieckowski
State Senator Byron Sher
State Senator Elaine Alquist
State Senator Ellen Corbett
State Senator Jim Beall
State Senator Joe Simitian
State Senator John Vasconcellos
State Senator Liz Figueroa
Sunnyvale Mayor Otto Lee
Somos Mayfair
United Way Silicon Valley
US Department of Education
US Department of Labor
US Department of Transportation
US Environmental Protection Agency
US Federal Aviation Administration
US Food and Drug Administration
Vietnamese American Worker Rights Project
Working Partnerships USA
Jeremy Lin (Class of 2004)
NBA Point Guard for the Brooklyn Nets
Allen Chiu (Class of 2007)
Wayland Fong (Class of 2011)
Gunn High School students releases novel, Fat Boy, Little Man, at age 17
Disha Banik (Class of 2011)
Jolena Ma (Class of 2012)
Ishan Sharma (Class of 2013)