YVC Business Technology Instructor and City of Yakima Assistant Mayor Holly Cousens recently received a Certificate of Municipal Leadership from the Association of Washington Cities (AWC).

The CML program recognizes city and town elected officials for accomplishing training in four core areas:

    1. Roles, responsibilities and legal requirements
    2. Public sector resource management
    3. Community planning and development
    4. Effective local leadership

“Being a city leader in Washington is a complex job,” said AWC Interim CEO Alicia Seegers Martinelli. “Through our CML program we are helping mayors and councilmembers better understand and address the challenges of effective and equitable leadership, including understanding the legal landscape, budget and resource management, planning and development and more.”

Cousens completed more than 30 hours of training credits to earn this distinction. She represents District 7 on the Yakima City Council. She was elected to City Council in November 2015 and re-elected in November 2019. The Council appointed her assistant mayor in January 2020.

“No matter what role you have in life, knowledge is power,” states Cousens. “Helping people has always been my passion, gaining knowledge and the best tools possible to do so is important to me so that I can better serve all of you.”