Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Marguerite Mazzitti and I am currently a
consultant for non profits. I help mostly with development and marketing. Basically
telling the story and helping nonprofit how to do that.
What do you love about San Leandro?
I love that San Leandro has so much opportunity, I love that
a big enough community but small enough to be involved at the local government
level, the local business level and to get to know all the people who make San
Leandro what it is.
You are also involved with Leadership San Leandro?
I am involved in a couple of things, Leadership San Leandro
is one of them, I have been involved for about 3 years. I have been on the steering
committee which helps guide the program. I think the greatest impact we have
had on the 21 year old program is to have Breanna Hatcher leading it. She is
really the magic that has reinvigorated the program. It is a pleasure to work
with something new and fresh that so many more people are becoming aware of due
to our marking efforts and due to people that are taking the class and are
saying what value it has to offer.
The other things I do is I have been 3 times appointed to
the board of zoning adjustments also
known as the BZA by elected officials. It is a board that reviews any items
that are outside the building code, so we get a say in anything from say a
local drug store that wants to change something or a resident or a new business
coming to town. It involves anything in the city.
Back to Leadership, I have also been involved in Fundraising for the leadership program and have put a lot
of energy into The Taste of San Leandro which is going to be the 21st Amendment
celebrating our 21st year of the program. I have got to know a lot of great restaurants
and suppliers and caterers, craft
brewers and wine makers through this event which helps fund the program.
If a business like a restaurant that wants to be involved in the event
how can they be involved?
It is all about trying to promote the local food, beer and
wine. If you are a caterer please contact us and we will try and fit you into
the program, we are limited on space.
The non catering companies, can they be involved?
Any business or individual can sponsor The Taste of San Leandro.
We have various levels. We start with the Taste tester for $250 and it includes some great benefits,
You get a couple of tickets to the taste and some other great things. We have sponsorship
levels all the way up to $5000. $5000 is our presenting sponsor .
We have been very fortunate to be supported by the San Leandro
businesses and individuals. I think this is an important investment in our
community. We get the chance to help potential leaders form throughout this
program. We have had more than several elected officials participate in the
program. It's not just for people how are interested in politics. It's for
people to learn more about how the city works and all the different entities that
come together to form a city. It also gives you an insight into boards and
commissions and what you can do for non profits. It's not just government
related. Leadership also has a professional development component.
On Professional development added to the program during the last few
years - The magic that has come though Breanna Hatcher. It's about
communicating more clearly, it's about collaborating, it's about people coming
together with opposing views but finding consensus, developing personal strengths.
To me that is so incredibly valuable in comparison in trying to take courses in
professional development. Leadership San Leandro raps it together with learning
about your own community, and you an hopefully give back. That's why I invest
so much energy into fundraising for it.
It's important for people to know who is running for office
so they should get involved through leadership. It helps you get more involved in
elections, know the candidates before you go to the poles to vote. It gives you
a lot more information than a glossy postcard can or voting by how you like the
sound of somebody's name. I am hoping people pay attention to that because we
do get a chance to choose our leaders and I think that's important that we
groom them from the community and that we exercise that right to vote very judicially
The Taste of San Leandro is a fundraiser for Leadership San Leandro.
Can you sum up what to expect at the event?
It's a great event that runs for 3 hours. It is restaurants,
our local craft breweries that we are now becoming a hub for and wine. They
provide a sampling of their food and drink to a crowd of 300 people plus. It's
a lot of fun, you get to network, you get to eat, you get to drink and catch up
with people. That's what it is all about.
Any words of Wisdom on finishing quote?
What I would like to leave people with is we are really
moving forward, I have been here over 15 years , and we are really starting to
move forward in this town. Everyone can play a part in that. I would say think
about what you can do to make this community better.
Thanks you so much, your energy is incredible, thank you.
