Form Name: Boards and Commissions Application
Unique ID: 1361534083
Applicant Information
Name Yael Grossman Levy
Are you a Sunnyvale resident? Yes
How long have you lived in
Sunnyvale?
3 years
Description Area Residence Notice:Unless otherwise noted, your principal place of residence must be in Sunnyvale. You must live in Sunnyvale at the time of appointment and at all times during service on a board or commission.
Current Main Residence
Email
Phone
Are you currently a registered
voter in Sunnyvale?
Yes
When was the last time you
voted? Month/Year
11/24
Have you ever served on a City of
Sunnyvale board or commission?
No
Have you attended a meeting of
the City Council, or a board or
commission?
Yes
Yael Grossman Levy
Office Use Only
Date Received:
__________
Voter registration
verified:
Office Use Only
Date Received: __________
Voter registration verified:
On: ___________________
By: ___________________
Date Received:
Voter registration verified:
On:
By: ___________________
7/12/25
7/14/25
MH
I
Briefly describe what you learned
by watching or attending a
meeting of the City Council,
board or commission. What
improvements would you
suggest?
I've learned that the City Council diligently observes the Brown Act and transparency requirements by posting agendas and discussion questions in advance, allowing the community to engage. I've also observed community members actively engage the council, for instance: in the case of the proposed pedestrian and bike lanes on Tasman Dr. needed to advance public safety.
It's been very exciting engaging in these processes and making Sunnyvale better.
Unfortunately, I also observed occasions when City Council meetings were hijacked by speakers whose rhetoric had no tie to Sunnyvale policy and, in some cases, included hate speech. Such disruptions stifle meaningful dialogue, drain City resources, and-most importantly-undermine the psychological safety of attendees from marginalized communities. I'd like to think about how we could improve the safety and inclusivity of these meetings for all participants, and amplify the voices of Sunnyvale residents in particular.
Have you attended meetings of
the board(s) or commission(s) for
which you are applying?
Yes
How many meetings have you
attended?
1 Board or Commission Selection
First Choice Human Relations Commission
Applicant Qualifications
Yael Grossman Levy
What motivated you to apply for
this board or commission?
I'm applying because I want every family in Sunnyvale, including mine, to feel both welcome and safe. As an active member of the local Jewish community, I've experienced how vibrant cultural traditions enrich cities around us. Yet I've also seen the anxiety that rises when hate crimes spike in the wider Bay Area or when online harassment spills into civic spaces.
Serving on this commission would let me translate those lived experiences into action: advocating for well-lit, secure gathering places; encouraging culturally inclusive programming in our parks and libraries; and ensuring that public-safety initiatives explicitly protect minority communities. My background in product
management has trained me to listen closely, build consensus, and turn community feedback into concrete, measurable
outcomes - skills I'm eager to apply on behalf of all Sunnyvale residents.
What skills or attributes can you
bring to this board or
commission?
I am a group product manager at Google and manage a team of product managers. I am a skilled written and oral communicator and problem-solver.
- One of the things I do in my job everyday is collaborate and build partnerships: I'd love to apply this expertise to help to let the rich cultural diversity of Sunnyvale shine and supporting all residents.
- As an active member of Sunnyvale's Jewish community and a mother of two, I understand firsthand how policy affects safety, inclusion, and cultural expression. I'm committed to ensuring initiatives serve under-represented groups and meet our city's DEI goals.
- As a homeowner and volunteer in schools & community, I'm invested in Sunnyvale's long-term success and attuned to neighborhood-level concerns.
Yael Grossman Levy
The primary role of a board or
commission member is to provide
advice to City Council on policy
issues that are within the scope
of the board or commission. What
steps would you take to
effectively exercise this specific
board or commission role?
To be an effective adviser, I would first immerse myself in the commission's charter, recent work, and budget realities, meeting with City staff to understand any legal or technical constraints.
Next, I would collaborate with residents, businesses, and cultural and faith communities-listening carefully to their needs while pairing their insights with data and examples from peer cities.
Working shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow commissioners, we would hold equity-minded discussions, weigh trade-offs, and shape two or three well-defined policy options, each tied to clear success metrics.
Finally, I would present our recommendations to the Council in plain, accessible language, publish a brief public summary for transparency, and stay engaged after the vote to track outcomes and refine our work as new information emerges.
Education – List college degrees,
majors and any relevant training
or experience that demonstrates
your ability to effectively serve
on this board or commission.
I hold a B.Sc. in computer engineering and a M.Sc in electrical engineering, graduated with honors.
I manage a team of people and work cross-functionally with hundreds.
Describe your involvement in
community activities, volunteer
and civic organizations.
I volunteer at my kids' school, teaching both Project Cornerstone and FAME - the Arts and Music program.
I am also active within the Jewish community and help with the organization of community activities.
Finally, I actively mentor junior members of my organization from marginalized / underrepresented groups to help them grow in their careers.
Description Area The City has a Code of Ethics and Conduct for Elected and Appointed Officials and an Attendance Policy (7.2.19), 2 G (II) that appointed members are required to follow.
Do you have any concerns related
to the above code and policy?
No
Are you willing to accept a
temporary appointment for the
remainder of an unexpired term?
Yes
Board or Commission-Specific Questions
Yael Grossman Levy
Human Relations Commission
Category One: I'm a Sunnyvale
resident.
Yes
What do you think are major
equity challenges facing the
Sunnyvale community?
One of Sunnyvale's most urgent equity challenges is the sharp rise in antisemitism and other forms of hate. Over the past year our City Council meetings, school events, and even community festivals have been interrupted by antisemitic rhetoric or imagery, forcing Jewish residents, including school-age kids, to weigh personal safety before speaking up or attending civic gatherings.
In 2024 alone, Northern California logged nearly 500 antisemitic incidents, and several of those occurred in or near Sunnyvale.
But antisemitism does not stand alone. Asian American neighbors remain targets of post-pandemic bias; Muslim and Sikh residents have reported Islamophobic harassment; and LGBTQ+ youth continue to face bullying. Layered on top of identity-based hate are structural inequities: soaring housing costs that push lower-income families and seniors to the margins; language barriers that limit civic participation for the 45 percent of households that speak a language other than English at home; and uneven access to safe, affordable transportation and high-speed internet, which widens educational and economic gaps.
Addressing equity in Sunnyvale therefore means two things at once: (1) taking a hard line against hate - through stronger meeting-civility rules, better incident reporting, and visible solidarity campaigns - and (2) tackling the systemic barriers that keep many residents from feeling they fully belong or can thrive here. By viewing antisemitism as a 'canary in the coalmine' rather than an isolated problem, we can craft policies that make every community safer and more included.
Yael Grossman Levy
Describe your experience working
with historically marginalized
communities. How have your
actions benefited these
communities?
Early in my career I volunteered with programs that introduced girls and young women to computing and engineering: this includes meeting with girls in middle school and high school and speaking in panels, sharing my experience as an engineer. Those sessions helped several participants choose STEM majors, proof that early exposure really does widen the talent pipeline.
Inside Google today, I mentor product managers from diverse and under-represented backgrounds. We meet monthly and discuss job challenges in a safe environment.
I also stay deeply involved in Sunnyvale's Jewish community, a group that has historically faced discrimination and, more recently, a troubling spike in antisemitic incidents. I participate in the Bay Area Jewish Coalition to help organize interfaith events, represent the needs of the Jewish community, and combat antisemitism. I also volunteer at my kids' school, teaching Project Cornerstone, which gives kids the social and emotional tools they need to be upstanding members of society. I also organize Hanukkah celebrations every year in my kids' classrooms! Dreidels and doughnuts are always a big hit :)
Demographic Information
Your age
Your gender
Description Area LGBTQIA+ Identity (LGBTQIA+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and the “+” is an all-inclusive way to include additional terms used to describe one’s gender, romantic, and sexual identities for those who do not identify with heterosexuality or the gender binary.)
LGBTQIA+ Identity
Race or Ethnicity (select all that
apply)
Short Answer
Do you speak a language other
than English?
Which languages?
Yael Grossman Levy
Household Income
Residence - Are you a
Do you live in a
Your Agreement
Description Area IMPORTANT NOTICE – READ BEFORE SIGNING:By selecting both “Yes” and “Submit Form” below I am adding my digital signature to this application. I am also agreeing with the following statements:All statements I have made on this application are true and correct.I authorize the City of Sunnyvale (City) to investigate the accuracy of this information.I release the City from all claims and liabilities arising from such investigation.I acknowledge that any false statement on this application will be grounds for the City to deny my appointment. A false statement discovered later, will be grounds to dismiss me from my appointment at any time.I acknowledge that any false statement on this application could lead to criminal charges. Charges could fall under California Penal Code, Section 115 or other applicable law.
I agree Yes
Your full name Yael Grossman Levy
Date Jul 12, 2025
Yael Grossman Levy