Average experience rating
2026 pilot impact
The first chapter
delivered results.
Seven participants reflected on the six-week experience. Every respondent rated the pilot positively, giving the program a 4.7 out of 5 average.
Rated the program a 4 or 5
Complete participant responses
Ratings below 4
What the findings say
A strong model with a clear next step.
The feedback supports the foundation of the academy. Participants valued the welcoming opening, real stories from guest speakers, and the full program experience. The clearest opportunity is to make future cohorts even more interactive through discussion, collaboration, and play.
Inside the pilot
Learning, speaking, and showing up.
Moments from the inaugural Sacramento cohort, from the first welcome to participant presentations and celebration.
What worked
Connection made the learning stick.
The most valued elements created safety, variety, and a personal connection to each lesson.
Week 1 stood out
Four respondents highlighted the opening week for its welcoming atmosphere, strong foundation, and ability to ease initial nervousness.
Guest speakers mattered
Four respondents wanted guest speakers retained. Their personal stories strengthened the lessons and made each week feel distinct.
Keep the core model
Six of seven respondents did not identify anything specific the program should stop doing, pointing to refinement rather than a major redesign.
What we learned
Future cohorts should do more together.
Participants were not asking for a different program. They were asking for more ways to engage with the material and one another.
More group discussion and projects
Four respondents requested collaborative learning experiences.
More games and interactive activities
Three respondents specifically mentioned games, including Kahoot.
Shorter writing, added reading
The only concrete stop-or-change recommendation was to reduce the volume of writing assignments and include reading activities.
A useful tension
Incentives open the door. Belonging and relevance help young people stay.
42.9%
Three respondents named learning, responsibility, or social connection as reasons to attend beyond financial compensation. One respondent said money was the only reason they attended, showing that intrinsic motivation varied across the cohort.
About the findings
All seven responses were submitted July 29, 2026. Because each response represents 14.3 percentage points, the findings are directional and describe this cohort only. The survey prompt referenced a 1–10 rating, but the configured scale was 1–5, so ratings were analyzed on the five-point scale.
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