What is LMV?

• Leadership Mountain View (LMV) is a community leadership education program for adults who live or work in Mountain View
• Spend nine full Fridays and one 1/2 day in classrooms and on field trips learning about Leadership and about Mountain View
• Instructors are local leaders and experts from the public and private sectors

Mission Statement

To identify today's concerned community members, develop their leadership skills, and inspire them to be active and informed leadership resources for the Mountain View of tomorrow.

Testimonials of Alumni

A) How did Leadership Mountain View help you become more involved in our community?

By introducing me to so many leaders in our community, allowing me access to key networks and great people who work collaboratively.

Maurice Ghysels
Former Superintendent
Mountain View Whisman School District (MVWSD)

LMV empowered me to get more broadly involved in our community. I had been active previously in my neighborhood and my children's schools, but after graduating from LMV, having learnt so much about the City and the region and met so many active and involved people, I was ready to apply for a City-wide volunteer position (on the Parks and Recreation Commission).

Ronit Bryant
Mayor
Mountain View City Council

LMV exposed me to the wider perspective of the city as a governing entity, and to the multitude or organizations that make Mountain View a great community. I networked with fellow participants who shared the same passion for learning, and to this day I am able to make connections with some of my classmates when out in the community.

Max Bosel
Captain
Mountain View Police Department

Of course it did. To me, as to most residents of Mountain View, the mechanism of the city was something that was hidden from view. It was simply the man behind the curtain that kept the streets clean and sent over the fire department if a cat was treed in our neighborhood. But LMV took me behind the curtain, and gave me a deep understanding of how the city of my residence actually functions. This has both given me a greater appreciation for what the local government does and has also sparked my interest in helping out where I can.

Seth Shostak
Senior Astronomer
SETI Institute

Yes, LMV helped me become more involved in the community. When I took the LMV program, I was principal of Graham Middle School and I had been involved in, and lived in the community for almost 20 years at that time. I had a great feel for the community, was already highly involved, but there were areas of learning and networking that I had not experienced, even in my many years in the community.

Gay Krause
Executive Director
Krause Center for Innovation
Foothill College

B) How does Leadership Mountain View serve the community?

By developing leaders, teams and action.

Maurice Ghysels

LMV serves the community by helping its participants learn both about the community and about their own skills and capacities to become involved and shape the community.

Ronit Bryant

It is a platform for bringing together a diverse group of professionals, representing a wide variety of organizations, who are interested in contributing to the betterment of Mountain View.

Max Bosel

Clearly, this program is the kind of thing that makes democracy work. The government -- even the relatively small government of our city -- is not some sort of "hired help" that we can assume will do what we want without very much input from its patrons. The city government is part of us -- and LMV puts us in touch.

Seth Shostak

LMV serves the community well. It gives many of the residents a real feeling for the community in areas that they would not otherwise experience. For example, I did a ride around two nights with a police officer from MVPD and experienced what they were experiencing as they made home visits, etc. This was an incredible experience for me. The networking is also extremely important. LMV participants get to meet others who live and work in MV that they would not otherwise meet and spend quality time getting acquainted. The total experience was invaluable to me and I still remember some of the sessions well.

Gay Krause

C) Which program day was your favorite and why?

Kevin Duggan's presentation about the City - clear, crisp, funny.

Maurice Ghysels

I am LMV Class of 96, and I don't remember one particular day. It was the whole experience over several months that was so significant for me.

Ronit Bryant

I cannot pin down a favorite day, but I truly enjoyed the opportunity to visit different sites and the teambuilding experiences of Our Class.
Max Bosel

I think that being able to "drive along" with some of Mountain View's finest was the most instructive aspect of my LMV experience. We all know the interaction between police and citizens from the latter's point of view. To see this vital civic function from behind the badge gave me a far better appreciation of how policing works and, for that matter, how it should work.

Seth Shostak

Education was my favorite program day. As a lifelong educator, I particularly enjoyed helping to put that program together and I did this also on some follow up years for the education program in particular. I got an opportunity to visit other schools and hear from educators, some of whom I knew, but it was a different venue and what I learned was different as well.

Gay Krause