About the Program
The SV@Home Action Fund’s Civic Leadership Program empowers housing champions throughout Silicon Valley to run for office, run campaigns, and apply for boards and commissions.
Civic Leadership Program cohorts meet for multiple full-day sessions, learning from SV@Home staff, local experts, and each other. Topics studied in the program include campaigning, communications, housing policy, effective advocacy, and ethical public service. Participants also develop their fundraising, networking, and public speaking skills.
Civic Leadership Program alums who have leaned on their training to win office include:
- Anthony Tordillos, San Jose Councilmember, District 3
- Alexander Gvatua, Foothill-De Anza Community College Trustee, Area 2
- Charles DiFazio, Mountain View Whisman School District Trustee
Outside of our regular cohorts, we have also provided 1-1 mentorship for several people prior to their running for office including:
- Julie Lythcott-Haims, Palo Alto City Council
- J.R. Fruen, Cupertino Councilmember
- Rob Moore, Los Gatos Councilmember
- George Lu, Palo Alto City Council
To support and sustain the Civic Leadership Program, please consider contributing to the Action Fund.
2026 Cohort
Featuring Ruth Melton, Mirella Maldonado, Theresa Do, Antonio Kobe Lopez, Evelyn Keomian-Wood, Jahmal Williams, Tomara Hall, Elizabeth Agramont-Justiniano, Dwight White, Ariana Ziolkowski, Loghann Bellamy, April Webster, Jose Villarreal, Cassandra Magaña, Ra Hopkins, Óscar Quiroz-Medrano, Lou Dimes, and Marika Buchholz.
2025 Cohort
Congratulations to the participants: Paola Campos, Nina Chuang, Sophia Commisso, Malia Pires, Edith Gomez Marin, Estevan Guzman, Elise Lester, Elizabeth Marquez Bernardino, Bryan McCray, Angela Rausch, Karina Solano, J. Isaac Stone, Shalini Venkatesh, Kadence Walker, and Paulina Zapata.
Inaugural Cohort
Congratulations to the participants: Pardis Beikzadeh, Charles DiFazio, Alex Dersh, Ashley Guerrero, Elysa Gurman, Alexander Gvatua, Deb Henigson, Juan Angel Lujano, Citlali Martinez Chavez, Jo Nguyen, Olivia Ortiz, Dominic Quan Treseler, Shreya Rallabandi, Juan Rodriguez Nick Rovetto, Jeff Suzuki, Emily Thomas, Anthony Tordillos, Merry Yen!
To learn more about the Civic Leadership Program, or to be notified about the next opportunity to participate or nominate someone, please email info@svh-actionfund.org.
Testimonials from Participants
“The concrete information about the steps associated with running for office demystified the process and made it feel more attainable.”
“This program has inspired me to look into campaign management and has awakened an interest in running for office in the future. Learning from my peers highlighted the importance of networking and creating bridges within different communities.”
“Not only did the program help me better understand the process by which I could pursue these types of opportunities, I believe it allowed me to recognize traits within myself that I had previously overlooked and helped me establish connections I believe will assist me in the future.”