Gilroy proclaims Fair Housing Month; Silicon Valley Creates reports on 'Elevate Gilroy' arts grants

Mayor Greg Bozo read a proclamation at the April 6 meeting declaring April 2026 as Fair Housing Month and presented it to Denita Roncal of Project Sentinel. Roncal thanked the city for sustained partnership and described Project Sentinel’s local fair‑housing and tenant‑landlord counseling work.

Separately, Alexandra Urbanowski of Silicon Valley Creates presented an annual report on the third year of the Elevate Gilroy through the Arts grant program, which the city helped fund. Urbanowski said the program awarded roughly $57,000 in grants this year (leveraged from a $25,000 annual city commitment) and funded eight projects that included a chalk festival that drew approximately 800 attendees and a LaFrena festival with more than 200 artists. Upcoming events highlighted included a folklorico showcase and a new summer mariachi workshop series.

City and nonprofit speakers emphasized the value of local arts funding for community engagement and noted the grants helped leverage additional dollars and volunteer support.