Stockton teenagers will get a seat at the table, literally, when Families United launches its inaugural Youth Executive Leadership Academy on Saturday, October 3.
The nine-month program is open to students in grades 7-12 from across San Joaquin County and aims to give them access to leaders, careers and organizations they might not otherwise encounter. Over the course of the Academy, scholars will visit businesses, government agencies and nonprofits, meet community leaders and professionals, and build practical skills in leadership, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, professional communication, interviewing, digital citizenship, civic engagement, CPR, and college and skilled-trades exploration.
"You can't dream about opportunities you've never been exposed to. That's why this Academy matters," said Dominique Mellion, Founder and Executive Director of Families United. "We're opening doors, putting young people in rooms they may have never imagined themselves in, and giving them a seat at the table now, not someday. Opportunity creates access, and access creates exposure to what is possible."
The Oct. 3 launch kicks off with a welcome breakfast before the inaugural Class of 2027 begins its first day.
Event Details
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
Time: Welcome breakfast at 9:30 a.m.; Academy begins at 10 a.m.
Location: Families United Stockton Navigation Center, 5250 Claremont Ave., Suite 148, Stockton
Admission: Free
Tickets/Info: Contact Dominique Mellion at (510) 508-7997 or [email protected]