ABOUT US
We are a nonprofit organization providing solutions for schools that struggle with bullying, exclusion, and other social obstacles among students.
Our Story
Feelings of loneliness, isolation, not being valued or included, a lack of connection, not feeling accepted or treated with kindness and compassion, and a lack of purpose; set the conditions for children to develop anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and even suicidal thoughts as young as elementary school.
Mother Teresa said, “Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love. Peace begins with a smile. We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies. Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.”
A man in the 1970’s knew that “terrible poverty” when he desperately asked for a smile on a note that was left behind in his bare apartment before setting out on his last mortal journey to the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Most of us know the Great Golden Gate Bridge, it stands as a watery gravestone for the devalued, dis-connected, unloved, and disenfranchised despite the fact it was built for the purpose of connecting two isolated communities, that of Marin County to San Francisco.
Golden Gate Club was born at Bingham High School because of a vice principal and a hall monitor’s recognition of the need for smiles among their students, and opportunities for them to connect to school and peers.
Aristotle said, “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” Perhaps teaching prosocial behaviors, like that of a SMILE, and giving students the tools to build bridges, will paint a better future for the hearts of students everywhere.
Meet the Team
The Golden Gate Movement is fueled by passionate board members who are dedicated to making a noticeable difference in the world. Get to know each one below!
JOLYNNE WARD
President & Founder
Jolynne Ward
Credentials
- Hall Monitor (prefer Hall Mom) at Bingham High School
- Stay at home Mom and wife to my amazing husband, Keith
- Mother of 5 wonderful kids and Momma Jo to thousands of kids!
My Story
Like many blessings in my life, the hall monitor position just seemed to appear. I did not apply for it, someone I knew reached out and asked if I would be interested. At the time, I wasn’t sure if it was in my kids best interest to enforce school rules to their peers. I am however, thankful to have given it a try and for the opportunity it gave me to help students, I came to LOVE them like my own kids! Having raised five teenagers and been a stay-at-home Mom for nearly twenty-eight years, I viewed my employment as a stewardship. My goal for taking the position was to make a difference and the kids came to know me as “Momma Jo”. There was a student, named Savanah Vigil, a legally blind cheerleader, who despite her disability, would often approach her vice-principal (Michael Hughes) who also happened to be my supervisor at the time, and ask if there was anyone he needed her to reach out to. After receiving an email from a worried parent who said that her daughter didn’t want to go to school because she had no friends, we introduced Savanah to her. Savanah made this girl her friend. A later email from this worried parent said that Savanah had saved her life. Her example, along with the many other new and disenfranchised students I saw, caused me to approach Mike and ask if we could start a crew that did what we had sent Savanah to do. From that point, the Golden Gate Club was organized for the express purpose of giving students a reason to reach out. This pro-social approach, basically exploded overnight. As word of mouth spread from parents, media outlets and school board members, other schools reached out for the club. As a result, I became acquainted with multiple administrators and educators who desired to get involved. Some schools are not allowed to have clubs, therefore an initiative was created as an equivalent to the club. As the demands became larger than Mike and I could handle, and to ensure the club would go into schools effectively, I organized a non-profit organization known as Golden Gate Movement. I assembled a team of committed board members with a goal to bring smiles to as many students as possible and to create a HAPPY PLACE for ALL to belong.
MICHAEL HUGHES
V.P. & Co Founder
Michael Hughes
Credentials
- B.S. Zoology
- M.S. Education Administration
- High School and Middle School Administrator
My Story
Steel magnate Andrew Carnegie credited his success with surrounding himself with people better than he. Subscribing to that concept, I have endeavored to do that all my adult life. There are many examples of this, but the most notable one of late is that of the formation of the Golden Gate Club.
Inspired by former Bingham High School student Savanah Vigil’s remarkable altruism in being willing and even eager to befriend otherwise friendless students, hall monitor, Jolynne “Momma Jo” Ward approached me with the idea that we should form a club. Believing that to be a very good idea, and looking to name the new club, I recalled the story of a young man who jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge in the 1970’s ending his life. According to the story, when investigators checked his apartment, they found a note on a table that said, “If anyone smiles at me on the way to the bridge, I won’t jump.” I mentioned the story to Mrs. Ward and suggested that we name the new organization, the Golden Gate Club. She enthusiastically agreed. I drafted a “Pledge” and individually recruited the first student members. Jolynne wrote the club charter, filed the requisite paperwork for starting a school club, and also actively recruited members, and the Golden Gate Club was born.
Little did we imagine the extent to which it would continue to grow and the number of lives it would affect!
In less than a year, another school (Paradigm High School) formed a chapter. Antetum Elementary School in Virginia adopted the club, and several more high and middle schools have formed branches. The middle schools adopted the middle school version of the Golden Gate Club, which is now called, Be the Change.
As more schools are showing interest, we realized that the name Golden Gate and its accompanying story of a suicide might not be appropriate for younger children. So we adopted the name Starfish Kids for the elementary version of the Club.
Now, after just over two years of its existence, the Golden Gate Club is attracting the attention of service organizations, government officials, news outlets, religious leaders, and others from as far away as Australia and Japan.
As the message to reach out to others and to “Stay Kind” (the slogan on one of the tee shirts designed by Mrs. Ward) is disseminated, more and more individuals and organizations continue to express their interest. We believe that people are looking for organized and structured opportunities to reach out. One of our original members, when speaking to her mother stated, “This club gives me an excuse to reach out and be nice to people.” We intend to continue to provide opportunities and excuses to all who are interested. Our goal of spreading kindness, inclusion, outreach, and warmth is simple. Global domination. And wouldn’t that be nice?
SUSAN PULSIPHER
2nd Vice President
Susan Pulsipher
Credentials
- Member of Utah House of Representatives
- Former President of Jordan School District Board of Education
- MEd in Education Leadership with an emphasis in Policy
- BS in Elementary Education
My Story
I served on Jordan School Board for 6 years. During this time I used all my influence to create an education system where students could succeed each day. One evening a friend and neighbor, Jolynne Ward, shared with me her experience with the formation of the Golden Gate Club. Her excitement was contagious and it was apparent to me that this new club would positively impact many students. It is difficult for each student to succeed academically if they are not socially, emotionally, and mentally healthy. I could see that the prosocial focus of the Golden Gate Club would help many students succeed in school. I invited the Club to share their story with the Jordan School Board. Last year, as a Legislator, I had the opportunity to spotlight the Golden Gate Club in the Utah House of Representatives. The good news spread quickly and many people in Utah from parents, to school principals, to mayors have expressed a desire to bring the Golden Gate Club to their schools and communities. I am grateful to be a part of this movement.
PHILLIP JACKSON
Chief Creative Officer & Secretary
Phillip Jackson
- BFA Illustration
- BS Art Education
- High School Art Teacher
- Freelance Graphic Designer / Illustrator
My Story
I was on the sidelines as I watched Golden Gate Club start at Bingham High School. I knew the mission and was supportive. I invited Jo and Mike to come into my classroom and present the club to my students and tried to help where I could. I felt strongly that their mission of creating a place for all students to feel welcome could have a far reaching impact for good. But like every other teacher I felt overwhelmed with the day to day job of engaging my students in learning.
My paradigm shifted significantly when my daughter started first grade at a new school. She struggled to feel like she fit in and took a while to make friends. I would pick her up after school and it would break my heart when she described being at recess alone or trying to find a friend to sit with at the lunch table. As a parent I wanted to do anything and everything to prevent her from feeling that loneliness. Instead of directly intervening I attempted to “coach” her through different situations to hopefully help her make friends. Ultimately she did make friends and ended up fitting in well.
After this experience I started thinking about students that don’t end up having as happy of an ending. I started looking around my own school. I saw a lot of students who were suffering quietly. It wasn’t always because they didn’t have friends either. It ranged from feeling intense pressure to live up to family expectations to students who had essentially been dumped by their parents and were in the custody of the state. I encountered students who were distraught from a break up and others who were mourning in silence the death of a parent. I began to see that pain was pain regardless of what was causing it. Heartache was just as much of a companion to the most popular student as the brand new kid who didn’t know a single person at the school. With this new perspective I got involved with Golden Gate Club as a teacher advisor.
In the beginning it was my goal to help create a better school for my own kids when they eventually enter high school. But it became more than that. It was and still is my hope and belief that the mission of friendship, inclusion, and kindness that this movement endears can and will change the schools we attend and the communities we are a part of for all of our kids.
DR. LYNLEY MURPHY
Research Analyst
Lynley Murphy
Credentials
- BS Health Science
- MS Health Science
- Phd Health Education and Promotion with emphasis on International Health
- Utah Valley University Associate Professor, Public & Community Health Dept.
- Conference Developer
- Research Analyst – conducted research in Ghana, Bolivia, Peru, Mexico and Dominican Republic and presented her research at Global Rights for Women Conference at Oxford, England, the World Congress on Public Health at Rio de Janeiro, Current Topics in Public Health Conference in Cusco, Peru and the HIV/AIDS Conference at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia, at the American Public Health Association in Washington, D.C., as well as many global, national and state conferences.
- Topics of special interest include Literacy and Health Literacy for women in developing countries, HIV/AIDS Education and Prevention in young men and women, Global Leadership and Critical Thinking for Social Change, Global Women’s Rights, Global Health & Human Rights, and Mental Health and Well-being for All. From 2004 – 2005 she served as Vice-President of the Utah Society of Public Health Educators, from 2005 – 2008 she served the state as the President of the Health Education Association of Utah, and from 2014 – 2017 she served the Utah Valley University as Department Chair for Public & Community Health. Some of the recognitions Murphy has received for her contributions in Global & Public Health include: Service-Learning Fellowship Award, Outstanding Educator Award at UVU, Utah Campus Compact Service-Learning Award, and the UVU Presidential Award in Faculty Excellence.
My Story
In high school I was incredibly shy. Due to some personal choices I stood for, I never felt like I fit in with my mainstream group of peers. As a university professor of Public Health, I became keenly aware of students who seem to sit alone, were socially awkward, different, or who didn’t seem to know how to make friends or associate with other students. In the highly technical world we live in today, I feel like some students never learn or develop the simple yet vital social skills necessary to make and maintain truly happy and healthy relationships. When I first learned about the Golden Gate Movement, I felt it was inspired. It was an answer to the troubles that come with being tethered to a cellphone, or spending all free time on the internet. The Golden Gate Movement provides a safe haven where students of any background can feel like they are valuable human beings and they belong, a place where peers, advisors, and teachers sincerely care about their well-being every day, a place where they can develop essential skills in friendship-making, find delight in serving others, and discover that there is a lot in life that deserves celebrating . . . even as a teenager. It is my hope that through participation with Golden Gate, students will discover their own remarkable potential and grow to have joy in life’s journey . . . because life CAN be golden!
MICHELLE THORN
Director of Elementary Schools
Michelle Thorn
Credentials
- BS in Elementary Education
- 4 years teaching 5th grade
- Student Council Advisor
- Mom of 3 amazing kids
My Story
As a teacher, I get to be around hundreds of kids each day and I more often than not see children alone at recess or left out of group situations. This breaks my heart, so I have been thinking of ways that I could make a difference… not only in the school I teach in, but a difference in the community as a whole. Since I help lead our Student Council in our elementary school, I thought it would be a great opportunity for our Student Council team to design a kindness campaign to run throughout the school year. We had a huge kick-off week with activities, videos, and lessons incorporated and we are continuing this campaign each month. The Golden Gate team found out about what we were doing and what our goals for our campaign were and loved that it was exactly what Golden Gate stands for: acceptance, kindness, inclusion…some amazing things that I think every human being should be taught, should practice, and should pass on to other people around them. I was invited to be a part of the Golden Gate team as the Elementary Director. What an amazing opportunity! I am not only extremely excited to be a part of this movement, but I am honored to be in the position of getting to create an elementary level club that will teach our children from a kindergarten level through 6th grade to love themselves, be kind to others, notice people around them, and that simply smiling and saying “hello” to someone can spread so much happiness!
CYNTHIA COX
Training Materials Director
Cynthia Cox
- BS in Athletic Training
- MS in Secondary Education
- HOSA Advisor
- High School CTE Health Science Teacher
- Mother of 5 amazing kids
My Story
When Golden Gate started at Bingham, I was aware it was happening, but I didn’t really know what it was. There were not a lot of students I worked with directly that talked about Golden Gate. It was after one of the media stories that I really started to realize the snowball of good that was happening.
As a mother, one of my children was bullied in elementary school because he would rather read at recess than play football. It was starting to become a problem and I could definitely see it taking a toll on his self esteem. I felt helpless. I would go and talk to the teachers and the school administration, but nothing was done about the situation. After 3 years, We ended up transferring schools, a move which made all the difference in the world for him. He got to know other students who were like him. He became more confident in letting his personality shine. Community and the people that a student associates with matter!
As an athletic trainer, I see a little bit different dynamic. Aside from the positives of sport like teaching students teamwork, hard work, competition and sportsmanship, I see some students who have participated in a sport for so long that they sport has almost defined them. When the opportunity to play at the next level doesn’t come, or when injury occurs, they struggle to find a place of belonging again. I also see students who are using sport participation to fit in. For some it works and for others it doesn’t. I also see other good in sport, like Savannah Vigil. A talented athlete who also overcame huge personal struggles and influences others for good.
As a teacher, I am constantly reminded that every student sitting in my classroom has a story. Some of those stories are heartwarming and good, others are heartbreaking. I try to connect to my students and learn their story so I can hopefully be a positive part of their story. When I ran into Jo in the hall one day and we talked about what is happening Golden Gate, I offered to write a breakout for an activity that HOSA and Golden Gate could do together. One thing lead to another and I am helping to facilitate training materials. My goal as a part of Golden Gate is two fold. I would like to help build a positive culture (like the one that helped my son) so that all students have the tools they need to succeed. I want to make sure all my children have that, but I also want to help students to have the skills to realize that what lies within them is so powerful! The mind and the will are so strong that experiences around us can shape us, but they will only define us if we allow them to.
MARK GARDNER
Student Leadership Director & Treasurer
Mark Gardner
Credentials
- Licensed Special Education Teacher for 13 years
- Worked with residential treatment for 11 years
- Coached varying level of youth sports for 10 years
- National Presenter
- Co-Founder of a team building company
- Father of 3 kids, 2 adults, and temporarily fostered many more
My Story
I love the Golden Gate Movement! My 9th grade class got into a deep discussion about the TV show 13 Reasons Why, suicide trends, local news stories and how hard it was being in middle/high school. We started a class expedition researching statistics and current school programs so that they could write a proposal to present to our own school board. After analyzing other schools’ programs, my students were to trouble shoot potential problems and create their own program to implement at our school for their proposal.
During our research we came upon the Golden Gate Movement. My class loved the ideas and immediately included many of its aspects into their proposal. We invited Momma Jo to come speak to our class, I kept in contact, helped spread the word, volunteered as the treasurer, and have since had the opportunity to join serving on the board. I cannot think of a better way to teacher our kids and students how to interact and be including of others in every facet of their lives!
MAYRA ALEJANDRA BERRIOS GARCIA
Director of Spanish Curriculum
Mayra Alejandra Berrios Garcia
Venezuelan, daughter of two faithful believers in God, sister of three noble gentlemen, granddaughter, niece, cousin, friend, daughter-in-law and sister-in-law of extensive and loving families, wife of a man without comparison, mother of two awesome kids: boy and girl; and professional in the humanistic career of social communication.
She is a woman who, although she is mistaken for her human weaknesses, also she comes out with strong human and Christian values. Since childhood she has been passionate about and practiced the art of classical ballet and admires other dance genres; she is respectful of nature, the environment and animals of all species; She is empathetic and collaborative in everything that can be useful and of good cause. Of course she can get tired, discouraged, be intolerant, among other negative aspects, when she moves away from communion with God.
She loves and honors her parents for having inherited several of their wonderful qualities, but the most outstanding is the deep faith and trust in the Triune God, manifested in: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit; and, together with that Holy Trinity, they have also full devotion to the Virgin Mary, Mother of God.
For her brothers she has great love and admiration, expresses each of their charisms and gifts, and respects their respective differences.
With all her whole family and friends she maintains deep affection for each other.
She is a wife who trusts in the fullness of shared life, connecting with her husband in every aspect of married life and also as parents.
She accepted and decided with love to be a mother out of respect for life, every day she thanks God for her two precious children, giving her best at every moment; and she tries to raise them wisely, establishing the guidelines that correspond to each one according to their particular characteristics.
As a professional in Social Communication, she has a degree in Journalism and a Master’s in Communication Management. She has worked for the last fourteen (14) years in: writing and correcting news, special reports, interviews and general information; preparation of academic and business reports; planning informational guidelines; publication of articles of social and commercial interest; promotion of products and services; Customer Support; advice on corporate image; volunteer in translation of texts from English to Spanish and vice versa; and recently, she is working as a captioning agent in a telephone call service for people with hearing disabilities. She is proactive, efficient and effective in any social and cultural area.
JOLYNNE WARD
President & Founder
Jolynne Ward
Credentials
- Hall Monitor (prefer Hall Mom) at Bingham High School
- Stay at home Mom and wife to my amazing husband, Keith
- Mother of 5 wonderful kids and Momma Jo to thousands of kids!
My Story
Like many blessings in my life, the hall monitor position just seemed to appear. I did not apply for it, someone I knew reached out and asked if I would be interested. At the time, I wasn’t sure if it was in my kids best interest to enforce school rules to their peers. I am however, thankful to have given it a try and for the opportunity it gave me to help students, I came to LOVE them like my own kids! Having raised five teenagers and been a stay-at-home Mom for nearly twenty-eight years, I viewed my employment as a stewardship. My goal for taking the position was to make a difference and the kids came to know me as “Momma Jo”. There was a student, named Savanah Vigil, a legally blind cheerleader, who despite her disability, would often approach her vice-principal (Michael Hughes) who also happened to be my supervisor at the time, and ask if there was anyone he needed her to reach out to. After receiving an email from a worried parent who said that her daughter didn’t want to go to school because she had no friends, we introduced Savanah to her. Savanah made this girl her friend. A later email from this worried parent said that Savanah had saved her life. Her example, along with the many other new and disenfranchised students I saw, caused me to approach Mike and ask if we could start a crew that did what we had sent Savanah to do. From that point, the Golden Gate Club was organized for the express purpose of giving students a reason to reach out. This pro-social approach, basically exploded overnight. As word of mouth spread from parents, media outlets and school board members, other schools reached out for the club. As a result, I became acquainted with multiple administrators and educators who desired to get involved. Some schools are not allowed to have clubs, therefore an initiative was created as an equivalent to the club. As the demands became larger than Mike and I could handle, and to ensure the club would go into schools effectively, I organized a non-profit organization known as Golden Gate Movement. I assembled a team of committed board members with a goal to bring smiles to as many students as possible and to create a HAPPY PLACE for ALL to belong.
MICHAEL HUGHES
V.P. & Co Founder
Michael Hughes
Credentials
- B.S. Zoology
- M.S. Education Administration
- High School and Middle School Administrator
My Story
Steel magnate Andrew Carnegie credited his success with surrounding himself with people better than he. Subscribing to that concept, I have endeavored to do that all my adult life. There are many examples of this, but the most notable one of late is that of the formation of the Golden Gate Club.
Inspired by former Bingham High School student Savanah Vigil’s remarkable altruism in being willing and even eager to befriend otherwise friendless students, hall monitor, Jolynne “Momma Jo” Ward approached me with the idea that we should form a club. Believing that to be a very good idea, and looking to name the new club, I recalled the story of a young man who jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge in the 1970’s ending his life. According to the story, when investigators checked his apartment, they found a note on a table that said, “If anyone smiles at me on the way to the bridge, I won’t jump.” I mentioned the story to Mrs. Ward and suggested that we name the new organization, the Golden Gate Club. She enthusiastically agreed. I drafted a “Pledge” and individually recruited the first student members. Jolynne wrote the club charter, filed the requisite paperwork for starting a school club, and also actively recruited members, and the Golden Gate Club was born.
Little did we imagine the extent to which it would continue to grow and the number of lives it would affect!
In less than a year, another school (Paradigm High School) formed a chapter. Antetum Elementary School in Virginia adopted the club, and several more high and middle schools have formed branches. The middle schools adopted the middle school version of the Golden Gate Club, which is now called, Be the Change.
As more schools are showing interest, we realized that the name Golden Gate and its accompanying story of a suicide might not be appropriate for younger children. So we adopted the name Starfish Kids for the elementary version of the Club.
Now, after just over two years of its existence, the Golden Gate Club is attracting the attention of service organizations, government officials, news outlets, religious leaders, and others from as far away as Australia and Japan.
As the message to reach out to others and to “Stay Kind” (the slogan on one of the tee shirts designed by Mrs. Ward) is disseminated, more and more individuals and organizations continue to express their interest. We believe that people are looking for organized and structured opportunities to reach out. One of our original members, when speaking to her mother stated, “This club gives me an excuse to reach out and be nice to people.” We intend to continue to provide opportunities and excuses to all who are interested. Our goal of spreading kindness, inclusion, outreach, and warmth is simple. Global domination. And wouldn’t that be nice?
SUSAN PULSIPHER
2nd Vice President
Susan Pulsipher
Credentials
- Member of Utah House of Representatives
- Former President of Jordan School District Board of Education
- MEd in Education Leadership with an emphasis in Policy
- BS in Elementary Education
My Story
I served on Jordan School Board for 6 years. During this time I used all my influence to create an education system where students could succeed each day. One evening a friend and neighbor, Jolynne Ward, shared with me her experience with the formation of the Golden Gate Club. Her excitement was contagious and it was apparent to me that this new club would positively impact many students. It is difficult for each student to succeed academically if they are not socially, emotionally, and mentally healthy. I could see that the prosocial focus of the Golden Gate Club would help many students succeed in school. I invited the Club to share their story with the Jordan School Board. Last year, as a Legislator, I had the opportunity to spotlight the Golden Gate Club in the Utah House of Representatives. The good news spread quickly and many people in Utah from parents, to school principals, to mayors have expressed a desire to bring the Golden Gate Club to their schools and communities. I am grateful to be a part of this movement.
PHILLIP JACKSON
Chief Creative Officer & Secretary
Phillip Jackson
- BFA Illustration
- BS Art Education
- High School Art Teacher
- Freelance Graphic Designer / Illustrator
My Story
I was on the sidelines as I watched Golden Gate Club start at Bingham High School. I knew the mission and was supportive. I invited Jo and Mike to come into my classroom and present the club to my students and tried to help where I could. I felt strongly that their mission of creating a place for all students to feel welcome could have a far reaching impact for good. But like every other teacher I felt overwhelmed with the day to day job of engaging my students in learning.
My paradigm shifted significantly when my daughter started first grade at a new school. She struggled to feel like she fit in and took a while to make friends. I would pick her up after school and it would break my heart when she described being at recess alone or trying to find a friend to sit with at the lunch table. As a parent I wanted to do anything and everything to prevent her from feeling that loneliness. Instead of directly intervening I attempted to “coach” her through different situations to hopefully help her make friends. Ultimately she did make friends and ended up fitting in well.
After this experience I started thinking about students that don’t end up having as happy of an ending. I started looking around my own school. I saw a lot of students who were suffering quietly. It wasn’t always because they didn’t have friends either. It ranged from feeling intense pressure to live up to family expectations to students who had essentially been dumped by their parents and were in the custody of the state. I encountered students who were distraught from a break up and others who were mourning in silence the death of a parent. I began to see that pain was pain regardless of what was causing it. Heartache was just as much of a companion to the most popular student as the brand new kid who didn’t know a single person at the school. With this new perspective I got involved with Golden Gate Club as a teacher advisor.
In the beginning it was my goal to help create a better school for my own kids when they eventually enter high school. But it became more than that. It was and still is my hope and belief that the mission of friendship, inclusion, and kindness that this movement endears can and will change the schools we attend and the communities we are a part of for all of our kids.
DR. LYNLEY MURPHY
Research Analyst
Lynley Murphy
Credentials
- BS Health Science
- MS Health Science
- Phd Health Education and Promotion with emphasis on International Health
- Utah Valley University Associate Professor, Public & Community Health Dept.
- Conference Developer
- Research Analyst – conducted research in Ghana, Bolivia, Peru, Mexico and Dominican Republic and presented her research at Global Rights for Women Conference at Oxford, England, the World Congress on Public Health at Rio de Janeiro, Current Topics in Public Health Conference in Cusco, Peru and the HIV/AIDS Conference at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia, at the American Public Health Association in Washington, D.C., as well as many global, national and state conferences.
- Topics of special interest include Literacy and Health Literacy for women in developing countries, HIV/AIDS Education and Prevention in young men and women, Global Leadership and Critical Thinking for Social Change, Global Women’s Rights, Global Health & Human Rights, and Mental Health and Well-being for All. From 2004 – 2005 she served as Vice-President of the Utah Society of Public Health Educators, from 2005 – 2008 she served the state as the President of the Health Education Association of Utah, and from 2014 – 2017 she served the Utah Valley University as Department Chair for Public & Community Health. Some of the recognitions Murphy has received for her contributions in Global & Public Health include: Service-Learning Fellowship Award, Outstanding Educator Award at UVU, Utah Campus Compact Service-Learning Award, and the UVU Presidential Award in Faculty Excellence.
My Story
In high school I was incredibly shy. Due to some personal choices I stood for, I never felt like I fit in with my mainstream group of peers. As a university professor of Public Health, I became keenly aware of students who seem to sit alone, were socially awkward, different, or who didn’t seem to know how to make friends or associate with other students. In the highly technical world we live in today, I feel like some students never learn or develop the simple yet vital social skills necessary to make and maintain truly happy and healthy relationships. When I first learned about the Golden Gate Movement, I felt it was inspired. It was an answer to the troubles that come with being tethered to a cellphone, or spending all free time on the internet. The Golden Gate Movement provides a safe haven where students of any background can feel like they are valuable human beings and they belong, a place where peers, advisors, and teachers sincerely care about their well-being every day, a place where they can develop essential skills in friendship-making, find delight in serving others, and discover that there is a lot in life that deserves celebrating . . . even as a teenager. It is my hope that through participation with Golden Gate, students will discover their own remarkable potential and grow to have joy in life’s journey . . . because life CAN be golden!
CYNTHIA COX
Training Materials Director
Cynthia Cox
- BS in Athletic Training
- MS in Secondary Education
- HOSA Advisor
- High School CTE Health Science Teacher
- Mother of 5 amazing kids
My Story
When Golden Gate started at Bingham, I was aware it was happening, but I didn’t really know what it was. There were not a lot of students I worked with directly that talked about Golden Gate. It was after one of the media stories that I really started to realize the snowball of good that was happening.
As a mother, one of my children was bullied in elementary school because he would rather read at recess than play football. It was starting to become a problem and I could definitely see it taking a toll on his self esteem. I felt helpless. I would go and talk to the teachers and the school administration, but nothing was done about the situation. After 3 years, We ended up transferring schools, a move which made all the difference in the world for him. He got to know other students who were like him. He became more confident in letting his personality shine. Community and the people that a student associates with matter!
As an athletic trainer, I see a little bit different dynamic. Aside from the positives of sport like teaching students teamwork, hard work, competition and sportsmanship, I see some students who have participated in a sport for so long that they sport has almost defined them. When the opportunity to play at the next level doesn’t come, or when injury occurs, they struggle to find a place of belonging again. I also see students who are using sport participation to fit in. For some it works and for others it doesn’t. I also see other good in sport, like Savannah Vigil. A talented athlete who also overcame huge personal struggles and influences others for good.
As a teacher, I am constantly reminded that every student sitting in my classroom has a story. Some of those stories are heartwarming and good, others are heartbreaking. I try to connect to my students and learn their story so I can hopefully be a positive part of their story. When I ran into Jo in the hall one day and we talked about what is happening Golden Gate, I offered to write a breakout for an activity that HOSA and Golden Gate could do together. One thing lead to another and I am helping to facilitate training materials. My goal as a part of Golden Gate is two fold. I would like to help build a positive culture (like the one that helped my son) so that all students have the tools they need to succeed. I want to make sure all my children have that, but I also want to help students to have the skills to realize that what lies within them is so powerful! The mind and the will are so strong that experiences around us can shape us, but they will only define us if we allow them to.
MICHELLE THORN
Director of Elementary Schools
Michelle Thorn
Credentials
- BS in Elementary Education
- 4 years teaching 5th grade
- Student Council Advisor
- Mom of 3 amazing kids
My Story
As a teacher, I get to be around hundreds of kids each day and I more often than not see children alone at recess or left out of group situations. This breaks my heart, so I have been thinking of ways that I could make a difference… not only in the school I teach in, but a difference in the community as a whole. Since I help lead our Student Council in our elementary school, I thought it would be a great opportunity for our Student Council team to design a kindness campaign to run throughout the school year. We had a huge kick-off week with activities, videos, and lessons incorporated and we are continuing this campaign each month. The Golden Gate team found out about what we were doing and what our goals for our campaign were and loved that it was exactly what Golden Gate stands for: acceptance, kindness, inclusion…some amazing things that I think every human being should be taught, should practice, and should pass on to other people around them. I was invited to be a part of the Golden Gate team as the Elementary Director. What an amazing opportunity! I am not only extremely excited to be a part of this movement, but I am honored to be in the position of getting to create an elementary level club that will teach our children from a kindergarten level through 6th grade to love themselves, be kind to others, notice people around them, and that simply smiling and saying “hello” to someone can spread so much happiness!
STORM SANDBERG
Web Developer & Chief Marketing Officer
Storm Sandberg
Credentials
- 4+ years experience in content creation, marketing, SEO, and website development
My Story
My little sister was one of the first members of the Golden Gate Club at Bingham High School, which was my connection to Jolynne Ward, the club’s president and founder. I had been looking for more opportunities to serve others, so when Jolynne came to me with a proposal to join the board and design this website pro bono, it seemed like it was meant to be. I loved the idea of The Golden Gate Movement and everything the board stood for. I’m really just lucky to be a part of something so incredible.
If you would like to learn more about Storm, her qualifications, or her services, you can do so by visiting her business website.
What Makes Us Unique
Golden Gate Movement employs a hands-on, all-inclusive, prosocial approach to the problems students face today. We don’t limit our clubs or provide a stagnant system. We welcome students from all walks of life to participate in various social opportunities and programs that are as dynamic and diverse as our members.
PROSOCIAL
Our organization provides social opportunities and soft-skill development for the benefit of isolated or disenfranchised students.
INCLUSIVE
We do not limit our clubs to include only a certain number or certain type of student. We encourage all to join — regardless of interests or credentials.
HANDS ON
We work diligently to create a structure that is lead by administrators and driven by students, activities, and training.
CONTINUAL
Our organization encompasses every grade level to assist children from kindergarten to high school graduation.
FEELING INSPIRED?
FEELING INSPIRED?
GET INVOLVED
Are you eager to make a positive impact in your community? Find out how you can make a difference by joining forces with The Golden Gate Movement!
GET INVOLVED
Find out how you can make a difference by joining forces with The Golden Gate Movement!
OUR NAME
Many are interested to know how The Golden Gate Movement got its name. If you’re one of them, then you might be surprised to hear that it all boils down to a note.
Golden Gate is a symbol of connection; the bridge was built to connect the isolated community of Marin County to San Francisco. The bridge is also associated with someone who desperately needed and asked for a smile, but never received one. Golden Gate students make the commitment to be the ones who will smile, reach out to the isolated, and provide social support to all who need a positive connection. #iwillbethatperson
FOLLOW THE MOVEMENT ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM
BRIDGE THE GAP
Questions? Comments? We would love to hear from you! Bridge the gap with this contact form and we’ll get back to you shortly!
BRIDGE THE GAP
Questions? Comments? We would love to hear from you! Bridge the gap with this contact form and we’ll get back to you shortly!