Two large signs welcome visitors, 15 others promote safety for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists

2022 Leadership Morgan Hill Class in Sacramento at the Capitol Building.
Photo courtesy Leadership Morgan Hill

By Marty Cheek

Thanks to the Leadership Morgan Hill class of 2022, local streets will be a little more welcoming and safer.

The nonprofit leadership training program is designed to educate and inspire its residents for community leadership and volunteer service. Every year the participants must work on a project that will have community benefit. This year’s class chose a goal of placing special signage to enhance the city’s thoroughfares.

Their project includes two large signs welcoming visitors on Monterey Road that are now being erected, with one placed at the north and one at the south end of Morgan Hill, said class member Mark Matthews. The project also adds 15 street signs designed and installed throughout the city promoting safety for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, he said.

A third educational component focused on promoting auto, cycling and pedestrian safety, where class members spent many hours at Morgan Hill events such as the Chamber of Commerce’s Friday Night Music Series to hand out bicycle reflectors, maps of MH bike trails, and stickers. Safety information will also be shared with all Morgan Hill Unified School District students and families.

“This three-part project evolved from brainstorming sessions that identified 22 great ideas to benefit and enhance the Morgan Hill community,” Matthews said. “Over nine months, this year’s class worked together to develop, fundraise, design, and promote the project from inspiration to final execution.”

The entire project was funded by donations from local businesses, non-profits and the sale of brick pavers that will be installed at the base of the two new “Welcome to Morgan Hill” gateway signs, he said.

“The class worked very hard to raise funds, prepare and receive approval of designs, work with a developer and initiate the installation,” he said.

Leadership Morgan Hill is a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching community members the ins and outs of how city, county and state government work on a day-to-day basis, he said. People joining the nine-month program have the opportunity to meet many leaders serving the city at various capacities including local government, business and community leaders, as well as a trip to Sacramento to meet officials in the State Capitol.

Each class learns about these government processes, people and services and completes a class project that benefits the community outside of the course studies, said Michele Tellez, class of 2022 president.

“We all agreed that Morgan Hill is a warm and caring community,” she said. “Creating safety signs and educating the community about sharing the roads in a safe and respectful manner seemed like a great way to add value to our great little city.”.

Being from a cycling family, Tellez said road safety is close to her heart, so seeing this project come to life was very gratifying.

Morgan Hill City Manager Christina Turner said the program more than exceeded her expectations.

“Leadership Morgan Hill mobilizes leaders at all levels, whether new to leadership or those currently in leadership roles,” she said. “I learned even more about our wonderful community, made great friendships, and continued on my leadership journey. I would highly recommend the program.”

Being in this year’s class provided Amy Martinez with a once in a lifetime experience.

“In the past nine months I have found myself stretched out of my comfort zone in many new and different ways from being more on the shy side to facilitating one of our leadership development classes,” she said. “Being surrounded and supported by such incredible classmates has made all the difference. It’s hard to put into words how valuable this opportunity has been, and I will continue to use all that I have learned from Leadership Morgan Hill in both my personal and professional life.”

A graduation ceremony was held Sept. 19 at Guglielmo Winery to celebrate the successes and course completion for the 23 members of the Leadership Morgan Hill Class of 2022. They are: Sharon Daroca, Sean Dougherty, Heather Geddes, Leslie Gunterson, Douglas Hall, Brooke Hoekstra, Bonni Kelley, Amina Khemici, Katie Khera, Amy Martinez, Mark Matthews, Tammy Parker, Leonette Stafford, Brian Sullivan, Wendy Sullivan, Michele Tellez, Andre Thom, Christina Turner, Harpreet Vittal, Cherisse White, Leland Wilcox, Chris Woodrow and James Valenti IV.