Administration of SACOG Youth Leadership Academy

The Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) is a voluntary association of governments and a Joint Powers Authority under California Government Code Section 6500 et seq. Member jurisdictions include 22 cities and six counties: the County of Sacramento (including the cities of Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Folsom, Galt, Isleton, Rancho Cordova and Sacramento); the County of Yolo (including the cities of Davis, West Sacramento, Winters, and Woodland); the County of Sutter (including the cities of Live Oak and Yuba City); the County of Yuba (including the cities of Marysville and Wheatland); Placer County (including the cities of Auburn, Colfax, Lincoln, Rocklin, Roseville and Town of Loomis) and El Dorado County (including the City of Placerville).

SACOG is the federally designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the six-county Sacramento region, including the counties of Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba, El Dorado, and Placer. SACOG is also the state designated Regional Transportation Planning Agency (RTPA) for the counties of Sacramento, Yolo, Sutter and Yuba. The Capital Valley Region Service Authority for Freeways and Expressways (CVR-SAFE) was established in the mid-1980’s between Sacramento, Yolo, Yuba, and San Joaquin Counties to develop, operate, and maintain a motorist aid system, which includes the existing traveler information system.

As part of SACOG’s convener and collaborator role, SACOG is committed to bringing young leaders into the planning and civic process early on. The Youth Leadership Academy is SACOG’s effort to bring in high school students from across the six-county region to learn about regional and local governments, partnerships, and how they can be involved in local decision-making.

SACOG is seeking information from qualified consultants that will be used to measure interest from organizations and to determine a reasonable budget for a future Request for Proposals (RFP). Information provided will help SACOG in planning efforts to issue a formal solicitation for Administration of the Youth Leadership Academy.

This RFI is an inquiry only. No contract or agreement will be entered into as a result of this process, nor does this RFI initiate a formal procurement or represent a commitment to issue an RFQ or an RFP in the future.

The Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) will begin its 8th cohort in 2026. YLA has provided over 260 young leaders in the Sacramento region an opportunity to gain additional leadership skills, an overall understanding of local government processes, and critical thinking skills regarding racial justice within planning and the public sector through a fun and welcoming environment . YLA will has focused on providing our young leaders broader tools and skillsets that can be applied to any work path they choose, whether its planning, health, skilled jobs, food, education, etc. Students have completed the program with an understanding that all our systems are interconnected and have real impacts in people’s everyday lives. This program continues to increase our connection with communities across the region and develop a pipeline of civically invested residents and future planners who will eventually be decision-makers themselves .