Mesa Leadership program accepting applications | News

The Mesa Leadership Training & Development Program is accepting applications for next year’s class, which begins in August.

The program includes monthly classes, tours and activities. Participation in Mesa Leadership is tracked using a point system and points accrue by attendance and will be celebrated with a graduation held in May 2026.

“Mesa Leadership was inaugurated in 1981 with the belief that every community has potential leaders who are seeking the opportunity to serve and who need exposure to the information, organizations and leaders to make that service possible,” spokeswoman and board member Jill Adair said. 

Over 40 years later, over 800 alumni have graduated from the program, including its most recent class that graduates May 5. 

Many of these graduates have pursued public office, served on nonprofit boards or city commissions, and/or donated their time and energies in a variety of ways to benefit the city of Mesa and its residents.

 “I always say this is one of the best things I’ve done in my professional life,” said Phaedra Earhart, Class of 2022 graduate and this year’s board chair. “Would do it all over again.”

There are nine class days, typically held on the first Friday of each month from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Each class highlights a different leadership area related to the city of Mesa.

They include city history, city government and administration, sustainability, municipal services, the arts, and education. 

Classes are led by leaders from the community, business and nonprofit organizations. Lunch and refreshments provided.

The class curriculum is augmented by a series of educational tours and activities to give participants access to Mesa’s “inner workings.” 

Tours are chosen based on the topics covered in monthly classes and have included trips to the Municipal Court, City Hall, Boeing, the Mesa Arts Center, United Food Bank, Phoenix- Gateway Airport and other organizations and nonprofits.

Each student also must shadow a local leader and provide an oral and written report to the class and program advisors in order to earn the associated points. 

Class Project: During the program, the Mesa Leadership class is required to select and complete a class project that benefits residents or organizations in Mesa. 

Additional activities such as ride-a-longs with police, fire, code enforcement, and park rangers and attending a board meeting for a nonprofit organization also are part of class participation.

Interested applicants must be at least 21 years old by June 1 and maintain a residence or work in Mesa.

Program tuition is $1,500 and is due in full by July 1, 2025. However, some employers are willing to assist with all or part of the tuition. 

In addition, partial scholarships based on need may be available through Mesa Leadership.

 Information: [email protected] or apply online at mesaleadership.org/join

The nonprofit Mesa Leadership Training & Development Program is sponsored by the Mesa Chamber of Commerce. The program is administered by volunteers who serve as board members, program and curriculum development committees and community liaisons.