Janella Anguiano: Building Community by Connecting with Each Other

Sometimes, all it takes to get involved in a community is… to get involved. That’s the main message from Janella Anguiano, a Castro Valley realtor with years of experience bringing people together to build a space where people want to live and enjoy themselves.

“I’m a connector of the community… I mean with my real estate business and with the Chamber,” Anguiano said. “I always have something to say. I'm not quiet. I'm always having ideas and sharing ideas.”

This month, she will be named the new chairperson of the Castro Valley/Eden Area Chamber of Commerce. Anguiano spoke with the Castro Valley Forum about her path and the importance of creating community through connecting with others. 

I’m originally from Hawaii, but we moved here when I was 7 years old, so I'm pretty much a California-grown person,” Anguiano told the Forum. “I went to San Lorenzo High School, and I’ve been a Rebel through and through. I met my gorgeous husband on Castro Valley Boulevard. He proposed three months later, and we've been together ever since.” 

Anguiano’s real estate journey began in 2003, inspired by impactful personal experiences and mentors. She says she cherishes Castro Valley's central location, close-knit community, and the joy of supporting local programs.

“As a realtor, you get to know the community very well, so you go out every day and do the best you can for them,” Anguiano. “We’ve done these email campaigns and elephant garage sales and raised more than $6,000 for the Davis Street Community Center. We arranged it so that everything that didn't get sold was set up like a huge department store in our parking lot and let people come and shop. All that money was donated back to the community. I've always loved stuff like that.” 

Initially inspired during the pandemic through Zoom Rotary meetings, Anguiano embraced community engagement by organizing creative activities like supporting local restaurants (citing her favorites like JP’s Family Restaurant) and hosting fun events. Her efforts garnered appreciation, leading to opportunities with the Chamber of Commerce and the Bay East Association of Realtors, where she took on roles like social media lead, vice chair, and eventually chairperson.

“I was doing spot things like asking people to go for a walk and do a photo hunt and find the word ‘taco’ for your chance to win a gift card at Tacos Locos or whatever place I was supporting at the time… fun stuff like that. I was trying to be a community supporter and bring light to their actions during the pandemic.”

Anguiano’s involvement extended to organizing significant community events, such as the Fall Festival, emphasizing family contributions in logistics and execution. This dedication stems from Anguiano’s upbringing, which was influenced by an engaged mother who modeled community service. She has also led initiatives like large-scale garage sales to support local causes, raising thousands for community centers.

“There’s this video of my husband and me and kids riding golf carts on a darkened Castro Valley Boulevard after the Fall Festival with [Chamber leaders] Gary [Slate] and Todd [Anglin], and we are just chatting away with lots of energy, and we’re picking up traffic cones and exhausted but excited that we just finished another successful Fall Festival.” 

As a chamber leader, Anguiano says she emphasizes collaboration, using social media to boost local businesses, and revitalizing programs like the Chamber’s Ambassador initiative to enhance member support. She will also advocate for better parking solutions, like a parking structure, to accommodate community growth. 

Anguiano says her goal is to inspire others to contribute, engage, and support local businesses and events, fostering a thriving and interconnected community.

“Just get involved,” she says. “You don't have to join the Chamber to volunteer. We have a lot of people who come for the Fall Festival to help us set up. We have many people who come to help us break down the event. Get involved. Help with community events, patronize local businesses, and join the Chamber mixers. Something small always contributes to the bigger picture.”