Nineteen emerging housing leaders from throughout Santa Clara County have completed the SV@Home Action Fund’s new Civic Leadership Program. This inaugural cohort came together in person for two full days on December 1st and 2nd in downtown San Jose.
Through the intensive boot camp style training, the cohort learned from SV@Home staff how to run for office, run a campaign, and serve on local appointed and elected bodies like planning commissions and city councils. The group also studied and discussed housing policy, storytelling, communications, and grit.
The Civic Leadership Program is part of our growing continuum of leadership development efforts designed to encourage and empower more community members to take active roles in furthering housing justice locally.
In the late summer, we asked community partners to help identify and nominate potential applicants to the program. We were impressed by the dozens of nominees and applicants. The final cohort represents a broad range of ages, experiences, and the diversity of Silicon Valley. Each cohort member has demonstrated commitment to housing, equity, and their community.
Some of the 19 members of the cohort have prior experience working in community organizing or on political campaigns. Others are experts in communications. Several have already served on, or have been recently appointed to, local planning commissions or similar advisory bodies. This mix of experiences meant the group had a chance to learn from each other as they presented talks of their own, sharing invaluable experiences, insights, and advice with their peers.
The SV@Home Action Fund is a 501c4 affiliated with SV@Home (itself a 501c3). The Action Fund plans to continue the Civic Leadership Program in 2024, and the 19 members of the inaugural cohort plan to meet as a group again at the start of the new year.
We are immensely proud of and inspired by the entire group. If you or someone you know are interested in learning more about the program or would like to be notified about future opportunities to participate, please email info@svh-actionfund.org