Nine mayors. Nine communities. One shared commitment.

We welcomed nine first-year Idaho mayors and city staff to Boise earlier this month for the launch of the 2026 Community Health Academy.

The cities participating are Ammon, Chubbuck, Garden City, Glenns Ferry, Moscow, Payette, Pocatello, Soda Springs, and Spirit Lake. These leaders will spend the next five months learning together, exchanging ideas, and building relationships with peers from across the state.

We created the Community Health Academy because local leadership matters. Every day, mayors and city staff make decisions about housing, transportation, parks, early education, and other priorities that directly shape the health and well-being of their communities.

This year’s cohort will explore topics including housing, youth behavioral health, childcare, and community design; learning from subject-matter experts and, just as importantly, from one another.

Our first session centered on leadership and storytelling, but some of the most meaningful moments happened between presentations. Around the table and over lunch, participants shared challenges, compared experiences, and discovered they’re not alone in the work they do.

That’s the heart of the program. While no two Idaho communities are exactly alike, many are navigating similar challenges. When local leaders are connected, good ideas travel faster. A single conversation can spark mentorship, inspire a new approach, or simply offer reassurance that others have faced (or solved!) the same issues.

We want this cohort to leave with more than new ideas. We hope they leave with lasting relationships and a trusted network they can rely on long after the Academy concludes.

We’re grateful to this year’s cohort for saying yes. Investing in local leaders is one of the most meaningful investments we can make, and we’re excited to see how these connections strengthen communities across Idaho.