“ A thriving community … takes care of each other . Our community leaders inspire me by their actions to be involved .”

Proprietor , Fifth Street Market And Graphic Design Lead , PMI

exploring pastures with her cousins , drawing , and tending animals . The former FFA President and “ Best in Show ” heifer award recipient set her sights on the big city for college — moving to Orlando to attend UCF . The move proved to be a good one for Alex Vo ( People to Watch 2020 ), a California kid attending Full Sail University in Orlando . The couple met on the streets — Alex was playing music , busking to raise money for his final film project , when Amber “ Approached and interrupted him .” Roll credits . She followed him back to California after college . Ten years later , the now married couple moved to Morgan Hill in 2016 .

They jumped right in . Amber is a three-year volunteer with Leadership Morgan Hill . She sponsored a downtown bike rack and designed messa ging for electrical street boxes . She painted fences for the community garden and , as the proprietor of Fifth Street Market ( fifthstreetmarket . shop ), is a fixture at downtown events and festivals . The couple volunteer each summer with DYR , a Diocesan Youth Retreat for high schoolers . “ My faith motivates me to a large

degree . The love we receive is meant to be shared and I do feel a call to serve ,” Amber says . “ See the face . Be the face .”

Amber also draws inspiration from Alex and from her family . Losing her mom to breast cancer in 2012 , Amber made it her duty to look after her brother and sister . “ They are older now , and on their way . I think she would be proud .” She says . The couple care for Alex ’ s mom , and will soon be a resource family for local kids in need of foster care . She does all this in addition to her position as Graphic Design Lead for PMI , where she manages brand marketing projects for Hobby Lobby , Target , and Starbucks .

Amber ’ s “ street cred ” is real . Her latest endeavor is “ Sidewalk Saturdays ” held on E . 3 ^rd Street in Morgan Hill . She credits the city of Morgan Hill ’ s Edith Ramirez and Hilary Holeman for their support and efforts to get the street market going quickly . “ They hit the ground and we were up and running in a matter of weeks . It was no small task .” Since inception , nearly 30 local small businesses have participated . “ It helps keep us all in business .”

Keep an eye on Amber Vo in 2021 . She ’ ll be on the sunny side of the street .

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GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN WINTER 2021 gmhtoday . com