Editor’s note: Alexandra Perez Jimenez is a former CUNY SPS student.

I have been very fortunate to participate in the CUNY Malave Leadership Academy throughout the 2023–2024 academic year. The program not only helped me to become a better leader, but it was also where I met my new family.

Although we all attend different CUNY schools, we come together every Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and have become a family throughout the last eight months. I learned about the different types of leadership and how the Social Change Model can help me become an effective leader. The Social Change Model focuses on leadership growth from three interdependent perspectives: community, oneself, and the collective.

One of my favorite moments from the program was the lobbying sessions. We met with New York assembly members, senators, and their staff and got to advocate for funding for mental health and disability at CUNY. I felt that our message was heard by these important figures from our government because they got to hear our messages.

Another favorite memory was attending The New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus and Somos events in Albany. We got to network with different state legislators and CUNY students, meet CUNY Chancellor Matos Rodríguez (I even got to take a photo with him, something I never thought would be possible), and hear impactful speeches from the attorney general and other influential people from the New York State government.

I also participated in the 2024 IREX Global Solutions Sustainability Challenge, where I got to work with Malave students and students from Soran University in Kurdistan. We worked for eight weeks together to address global challenges in our communities. We also attended the United Nations together.

I am very appreciative of this program because I got to meet amazing people, attend conferences and events, and become a more effective leader. I would recommend anyone who is interested in developing their leadership skills to consider joining this amazing program.

Please note: In order to join, you have to be nominated by the Office of Student Services. If you’re interested in more information about the Malave Leadership Academy, email studentservices@sps.cuny.edu.