Creating community through leadership

I love my community. I love creating community. I love learning. So when I moved to San Jose, I knew I wanted to participate in Community Leadership San Jose (now Leadership San Jose).?

I learned about community leadership programs when I lived in Cincinnati and it turns out they are all over the country. (I’ll bet there is one in your area; check it out!) It’s difficult to find an exact number since programs vary in scope, focus and organization, but the bottom line is these life-changing programs help shape and inspire passionate leaders who strive to make a difference in their communities.

I was able to participate in Community Leadership San Jose when I was editor-in-chief of Silicon Valley Biz Ink. Our publisher, Armon Mills , was a stellar example of getting involved, giving back and making a difference. He was a graduate of the program and committed to sending someone to the class each year. After working with Armon for years, I was so excited when it was my turn.?

It was September 2001 and the retreat for the program was scheduled for Saturday, September 15. As we all know, on Tuesday 9/11, our country was attacked by terrorists. That week was a blur of intense emotions, professional responsibilities and massive uncertainty. Many events were canceled and I wondered if the leadership retreat would be one of them. But Rick Holden , the executive director, decided to move forward with the retreat.?

I felt numb as I arrived, put on my name tag and grabbed a cup of coffee. Everything felt surreal and I questioned why we were even there. But as the group settled in, we went around the room and introduced ourselves. As each person offered their name and affiliation, you could feel the sense of purpose, the belief that we could all make a difference and the willingness to get involved. It was then that I knew I was in exactly the right place.

This nine-month program focused on different aspects of the community, from arts and media to education and homelessness. We learned about the criminal justice system by meeting an honorable judge, participating in a simulated police training and even visiting the local jail. We experienced our local government by touring city hall, visiting council chambers and even meeting the mayor. We got a glimpse into our health care system by hearing from doctors and nurses, learning the challenges of incorporating technology into medical care and even touring the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Valley Medical Center.?

It was learning by seeing, doing and being; it made an incredible impact on my life.?

• It helped me appreciate my community and all the dedicated people working hard to make it better, whether it’s elected officials, police officers, teachers, nonprofit leaders, health care workers, volunteers — the list goes on and on.?
• It inspired me to get involved; I’ve volunteered with many organizations, served on nonprofit boards and became active in my neighborhood to a greater extent because of this program.
• It introduced me to some of the most inspiring, smart and committed people I know; many of them are still friends today and I’m forever grateful that leadership led me down this path.

Leadership San Jose has graduated nearly 800 community leaders since it was started in 1995 (thanks to Sunny Claggett and John Baird who launched the program). Each class develops a special bond and when we graduate, we all claim that ours is the Best Class Ever (BCE)! Here’s to the class of 2002, clearly the BCE (although my husband, H.B. Mok , would argue that 2008 has that honor and Rick would cheer for 1995 — you get the idea).

So if you are curious about your community, are searching for a purpose, or just want to meet some really inspirational people, consider checking out your local leadership program. It just might be a bright spot in your year.

P.S. For those of you in Silicon Valley, Leadership San Jose is accepting applications until August 2, 2024 for next year’s class.