SF Guardians: We recalled the school board
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Joel Engardio speaks with the City Guardians candidates.Scott Wiener talking to the City Guardians Academy's first class.
Passionate about fixing San Francisco, but you need to get elected first?

City Guardians

A six-day program over three weekends, to learn how to tell your story, navigate attacks, and win elections.

Meet candidates from the first batch.
Apply to City Guardians this Fall
applications due Oct 15; program starts Oct 28

No political experience? No problem.

If you can run things, we can teach you how to win elections

We need an army of leaders working together to fix SF's problems.

One of them could be YOU -- or someone you know.


Autumn & Siva were complete novices when they ran the school board recall.

They learned politics... and won in a landslide.

You can do it too.


If you're passionate about solving a problem in your community, and if you want to track outcomes to make sure that problem gets solved...

...then we strongly encourage you to apply.


We are accepting candidates across the entire political spectrum to this free, nonpartisan program.


The 6-week program is designed to simulate a campaign.Autumn Looijen and Gaybraham Lincoln (David Thompson) at outer sunset farmers' market
Class will be offered in person on six Sundays and six Wednesday evenings.

In-person schedule:
10 am to 5 pm Saturdays & Sundays: Oct 28-29, Nov 4-5, Nov 18-19
Dinner after class
Demo Day TBD

Office hours between sessions


Expect instruction, strategy, and hands-on practice. Meet current and past experts and city leaders.

Hands-on practice crafting your story, staying on message, and handling attacks with skill.

There will be significant work between sessions to give you the feel of a real campaign.

Applications are due September 15.

We encourage you to apply early, as we look at applications as they come in. Class size is small for personal attention to every student.
Apply to City Guardians

In the news

Press Release Feb 4, 2023
The Recall busParents working hard to get better leadership for their kids.Canvassing at the Castro farmers market.Lowell drive-thruGraph of signatures collected over time
Joel and Kit loading boxes of petitionsUnloading boxes at city hallAutumn Looijen & Siva Raj in front of nearly a quarter million signatures.  Just turned in to the Dept of Elections.Thanks to the many who helped unload the boxes at the Dept of Elections!!