The 2026 cohort of the San Joaquin Political Academy concluded on Wednesday with a graduation ceremony at the Fresno Chamber of Commerce.
Six graduates were honored: Ethan Fierro, Samantha Forgey, Adam Gripenstraw, Vincent Trillo, Earl White and Jazzmine White.
Since its first graduating class in 2003, 130 students have completed SJPA, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in politics. Graduates have been elected at all levels of government: mayors, city councils, school boards, the State Assembly and even Congress.
Fresno Chamber of Commerce CEO Scott Miller is also an SJPA alum (’06).
“[SJPA] is one of the most important things that this organization does,” Miller said. “This program affects every level of government in Fresno County.”
About 20% of the people running for office in Fresno County have been through SJPA, Miller said, and about 35% of people in an elected office in the county have either been through SJPA or Leadership Fresno, a community immersion and leadership development program also under the purview of the Chamber.
The idea for a political academy housed in the Fresno Chamber of Commerce was hatched in November of 2001, when local business leaders—a group spearheaded by the late Stan Oken, Ruth Evans, Gordie Webster and others—identified a need for a stronger bench of candidates for local and state political positions, people who understood the importance of a strong business climate to promote the economic vitality of the region.
“Our hope was that we could invite business folks to learn more about our community and have a better idea of how our city and county governments work,” Webster said.
Among the pressing issues of the time were many of the same concerns Fresno grapples with today: unemployment, air quality, immigration, homelessness and K-12 education, to name a few. The nonpartisan academy was formed with those issues as a backdrop, and over the years SJPA has brought in business and community leaders, campaign experts, elected officials and educators to provide a comprehensive picture of local politics, issues and organizations.
They’ve also given students a look behind the veil of what it’s like to hold public office.
Faculty for SJPA’s most recent class included City of Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, City Manager Georgeanne White, Fresno City Councilmembers Annalisa Perea (D1) and Nick Richardson (D6), County Superintendent of Schools Michelle Cantwell-Copher, alums Magsig and Mouanoutoua, and a cadre of consultants, brand managers and campaign finance experts.
“It’s amazing to think about how a group of people from different backgrounds and political beliefs can all be galvanized around issues that are affecting the city, county and the state,” said Gripenstraw.
“Regardless of where we come from, we all came together and agreed that we want to make the city the best it can be,” said Trillo.
The next SJPA installment will launch in February of next year. For information about the 2027 class, contact Samantha Forgey at 495-4818, or visit the chamber’s SJPA website. Applications for the next cohort will be available in January of 2027.
The San Joaquin Political Academy is a program of the Forward Fresno Foundation and sponsored by the Fresno Association of Realtors.
For more updates on Fresno County development and business initiatives, stay connected with the Fresno Chamber of Commerce.
