Leadership Mountain View (LMV)

LMV's Fireside Chats attracted a full house in January as 45 people gathered to hear Tom Myers, Executive Director of Community Services Agency of Mountain View and Los Altos (CSA), speak about “Caring for Our Own: Three Decades of Changing Needs, Responses, and Future Possibilities”. Almost half of the attendees were LMV Alums from classes going back to 1992. Tom talked about what stayed the same across his 30 years leading the CSA - poverty, and Mountain View as a majority-renter community. But a lot has changed - higher cost-of-living (rent has increased from $800 to $3,500/month), more ethnic diversity, and increasing numbers of seniors experiencing poverty and homelessness. He also described the evolution of the community’s response to these needs: CSA began in 1957 as a charity for poor, migrant farm workers (when there was still much agriculture in our city), but now acts and is perceived as a fundamental part of the community’s ecosystem for supporting those less fortunate. This change was questioned during the wide-ranging Q&A, with one person asking why we see roads, but not poverty as the government's job. Tom described how some other countries (Russia, Denmark) do staff government agencies to do the kind of work the CSA does - they have full time employees, while the CSA relies on a small staff and hundreds of volunteers. Other questions touched upon how CSA plans for the future, fragmentation in the nonprofit space, the support (or lack thereof) from major local corporations and philanthropists, and more. There was also much love in the room for Tom, and many expressions of gratitude for his exceptional work in supporting the community. Thank you Rajiv Mehta for moderating this engaging session. #CSA #community #nonprofit #mountainview #renters #migrants #service

The Mountain View Chamber of Commerce's 30th Annual Celebration of Leaders Awards celebrates the incredible contributions of local businesses, organizations, and individuals who make Mountain View a better place to live and work. The ATHENA Leadership Awards honor outstanding leaders who empower others, especially women, to achieve professional excellence. There are new award categories this year and need your input! Know someone or a business that deserves recognition Nominate them today! https://lnkd.in/gPxiZsy2 #celebrationofleaders?#AthenaAwards?#chamberofcommerce #community?#mountainview

"The leaders we revere, the businesses and institutions that last, are not generally the result of a narrow pursuit of popularity or personal advancement but of devotion to some bigger purpose." - Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, 2009-2017. Arizona State Commencement Speech, 2009. Happy Presidents Day everyone! Turn up the volume! #presidentsday?#leadership?#mountainview?#greatpresidents

Today, as we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we reflect on the powerful legacy of leadership that continues to inspire us all. Leadership isn't just about holding a position of power - it's about having the courage to speak up for justice, the compassion to uplift others, and the vision to create a better future for all. #mlkday #leadership #community #inspiration #LeadershipMountainView

Day 4: Just before the holidays, the Class of 2025 got a closer look at the many challenges and organizations working on healthcare, human services, and housing in our community. Leaders from El Camino Health and Fogarty Innovation gave the class a behind-the-scenes look at what makes these organizations so unique. They learned about El Camino’s role as a high-quality, non-teaching hospital and Fogarty’s cutting-edge work as a medtech incubator. The City of Mountain View’s Human Services and Housing Departments shared the impactful work they’re doing to serve our community, while Tom Myers and Amy Kaiser, MSW from Community Services Agency of Mountain View and Los Altos (CSA) provided insights into the human services landscape in Mountain View. Join us on January 28 for a #firesidechat with Tom Myers https://bit.ly/4gUFoE6 #leadershipmountainview #health #humanservices

Registration: https://bit.ly/4gUFoE6 Over the past 30 years, City of Mountain View has experienced significant changes, including growing wealth for many alongside widening income disparities, soaring living costs, and housing shortages. These shifts have contributed to a rise in unhoused individuals, seniors facing poverty, and “house-rich, cash-poor” families struggling to make ends meet. Meanwhile, evolving theories and programs, such as Guaranteed Basic Income, have reshaped approaches to community care.?Drawing on decades of leadership in local service efforts, Tom Myers will explore how community needs have transformed, how responses have adapted, and what possibilities lie ahead. Community Services Agency of Mountain View and Los Altos #firesidechat #leadership #community #changes #service #volunteer #guaranteedbasicincome

As 2024 draws to a close, we’re filled with gratitude for the incredible community of leaders who continue to inspire connection, growth, and service to our community. Wishing everyone a joyful holiday season and a bright, impactful new year ahead! #leadership #gratitude #seasonsgreetings #happyholidays #joy

Leadership Mountain View connects participants with local community members and organizations, empowering and inspiring them to become engaged and informed leaders for themselves and the City of Mountain View. Donate here: https://lnkd.in/gm3E89VE #leadershipmountainview #leadershipdevelopment #givingback #givingbacktothecommunity #donatenow

Happy Thanksgiving from Leadership Mountain View! ?? We are grateful to be an integral part of this caring, diverse, thriving community. Wishing everyone a holiday filled with joy, gratitude, and togetherness! ???? #Thanksgiving #gratitude #community #diverse #Caring #mountainview #california #leadershipmountainview #leadership

Day 3 was Sustainability Day for LMV '25: Understanding climate change and what we can do about it. The morning started early with tree planting in Magnolia Park with Canopy. The session then moved to the lovely The Ameswell Hotel that hosted us for the day. Steve Attinger, Principal and Founder, Tapfire Sustainability presented on the current state of climate change and shared good and bad news. Members of City of Mountain View Sustainability Department led by Danielle Lee (LMV ’23), talked about decarbonization and resilience at the city level. Bruce Karney (LMV ’93), Carbon Free Mountain View talked about University of California, Berkeley’s Natural Gas Tax ballot proposition as a case study of what a city might try to go green, while Brian Kosinski (former LMV Executive Director and LMV ’21), showed data on how shifting to a plant-based diet can help make a positive impact on all five of the six "Planetary Boundaries" that are already beyond their safe operating zones. Hala Alshahwany (LMV ’24) and Deborah Vasquez (LMV ’24) shared their experiences in electrifying their respective home and apartment complex (Sunshine Gardens) shared here https://lnkd.in/g5Pce9hf. Thank you to The Ameswell Hotel for hosting us at their beautiful hotel, restaurant, and conference rooms! We enjoyed learning more about The Ameswell’s focus on sustainability in practice. If you would like to learn more, view this time-lapse video https://lnkd.in/dEn6kaP... on how global surface temperature has increased compared to the long-term average between 1951 to 1980. Notice how the poles warm a lot more, and the overall trend. #leadershipmountainview #sustainability #canopy #community #city #mountainview #trees