Greenbelt Alliance, Oakland, CA Videos

“The decision to preserve Coyote Valley was the last opportunity to say let's not continue with the sprawl from the 60s, 70s, 80s, and let's preserve what really was the last part of Santa Clara County and the valley that was agriculture and open space.” Meet Michael Brilliot, our 2024 Hidden Hero of the Greenbelt recognized for planning for resilience! With 27 years of experience in San José's department of planning, Michael has been a driving force in creating resilient communities in the South Bay. Uniting his passion for designing urban systems with a vocation to fostering relationships, Michael has left a huge legacy in planning for resilience. He was instrumental in the creation of landmark policies, from the Envision San José 2040 General Plan’s Urban Village Strategy to the permanent protection of Coyote Valley’s invaluable landscapes for future generations. Watch the video to be inspired by his story and celebrate Michael’s contributions with us at this year’s Hidden Heroes: https://www.greenbelt.org/hidden-heroes-of-the-greenbelt-2024/

Meet Lakshmi Rajagopalan, our 2024 Hidden Hero for promoting climate SMART housing! 🏘️🏠 With 16 years of experience in urban planning, Lakshmi is making waves in Oakland's Planning and Building Department. Her leadership in the award-winning 2045 General Plan Update focuses on meeting housing needs, reducing development barriers, and advancing environmental justice. Lakshmi's work exemplifies the intersection of climate action and environmental justice. Watch her story and get inspired for Hidden Heroes of the Greenbelt on August 28. Get tickets via the link in bio! #HiddenHeroes #UrbanPlanning #affordablehousing #housing #oakland

Meet Lakshmi Rajagopalan our 2024 Hidden Hero for promoting climate SMART—Sustainable, Mixed, Affordable, Resilient , Transit-Oriented– housing! 🏘️ With 16 years of experience in urban planning, Lakshmi is making waves in City of Oakland - Local Government's Planning and Building Department. Her leadership in the award-winning 2045 General Plan Update focuses on meeting housing needs, reducing development barriers, and advancing environmental justice. Lakshmi's work exemplifies the intersection of climate action and environmental justice. Watch her story and get inspired for Hidden Heroes of the Greenbelt on August 28: greenbelt.org/hidden-heroes-of-the-greenbelt-2024/ #HiddenHeroes #UrbanPlanning #Housing #Oakland #AffordableHousing #EnvironmentalJustice

“It’s critically important to focus on what we're leaving behind and the state that we're leaving it in. We have a responsibility to conserve land, community character, and a functional way of life for future generations.” Meet Misti Arias, our 2024 Hidden Hero recognized for fostering nature-based climate adaptation! Throughout Misti's 28-year journey at the Sonoma County Agricultural and Open Space District, she has contributed to the protection of over 50,000 acres through 150+ land conservation transactions. Get inspired by her story and join us in celebrating Misti's incredible work at Hidden Heroes on August 28, in Oakland Get tickets: https://www.greenbelt.org/hidden-heroes-of-the-greenbelt-2024/

This year Hidden Heroes will be bigger and better than ever as we host a community block party at Oakland’s historic Preservation Park, on August 28! Grab a drink at our open bar and some food from Off the Grid’s Food Truck selection, vibe out and dance to the Latin-Brazilian band, Karambá, and learn how incredible leaders in local government are making a difference in our Bay Area communities this August 28th. Check out all the fun activities you can explore and 🎟️Get your ticket: bit.ly/HiddenHeroes2024

Happy Work Anniversary to our Outings Coordinator, Ken! For the last 18 years, Ken has dedicated himself to preserving, expanding the green spaces, and educating people about their importance in our communities with a passion that’s evident in everything he does. 🏞️🌳🐕‍🦺🏕⛰️ Thank you, Ken, for making a real difference in our world. We are all lucky to have you on our team 💚

𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗛𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗯𝗲𝗹𝘁! We are thrilled to announce that this year’s awards will be given to three extraordinary leaders from across the Bay Area: Misti Arias (Sonoma), Michael Brilliot (San José), and Lakshmi Rajagopalan (Oakland). Their stories are inspiring and their contributions will leave a legacy of positive impact on our region. And mark your 📆 to join us on Wednesday, August 28, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. (PT), for our biggest Hidden Heroes event yet: a community block party at the historic Preservation Park! Get tickets via the link in our bio or at bit.ly/HiddenHeroes2024

This Affordable Housing Month, we are proud to spotlight three of our Hidden Heroes: Michelle Whitman, Erin Morris, and Amy Chen. They offer invaluable insights from their work advocating for sustainable and equitable housing in the Bay Area. May marks Affordable Housing Month to raise awareness about the profound housing crisis that our region faces. The impacts of housing insecurity are not felt by everyone in the same way, especially when compounded by intersecting issues like climate change, race and class inequities, and health disparities. That’s why Greenbelt Alliance is leading advocacy initiatives for the right kinds of land-use policies that prioritize affordable, low-emission, climate-resilient development in places safe from climate hazards. Learn more about our Hidden Heroes who advance extraordinary work at the intersection of land use and climate change in the Bay Area: greenbelt.org/hidden-heroes

Do you know a local hero working at the intersection of land use and climate change in the Bay Area? Nominate them now for the Hidden Heroes Awards 2024! For the fourth consecutive year, we are proud to open the nomination process for the Hidden Heroes of the Greenbelt Awards, which recognizes the often unseen, dedicated government staff who work to champion climate-smart plans, policies, and actions in our communities. Whether they're conserving open spaces, planning resilient communities, or advocating for climate-smart housing, their efforts deserve recognition and celebration. The three awardees will be honored and featured at our annual benefit Hidden Heroes of the Greenbelt, at Preservation Park in Oakland this August. It’s very easy to nominate, submit via the form by May 8, 2024: https://www.greenbelt.org/blog/nominations-hidden-heroes-2024/

Let’s bee the change this Earth Month! 🐝🌼 Our buzzing excitement for wildflowers blooming in the Bay Area isn’t just about nature’s beauty—it’s about connecting people with the world around us, as we advocate for the protection of critical natural and working lands. Learn more about our work to bring the tools and inspiration needed to establish and steward greenspaces that will lead to healthier, thriving communities: greenbelt.org/strategic-plan

It’s officially Earth Month! As spring breathes new life into the Bay Area, we're seeding change and fostering deep connections between communities and nature. Join us in preserving the legacy and beauty of our region's ecosystems, ensuring they flourish for generations to come. Donate today to help us continue planting the seeds of a resilient Bay Area via the link in our bio: https://give.greenbelt.org/give/566857/#!/donation/checkout?c_src=fy24spring&c_src2=socialmedia

It’s officially Earth Month! As spring breathes new life into the Bay Area, we’re seeding change and fostering deep connections between communities and nature. Join us in preserving the legacy and beauty of our region’s ecosystems, ensuring they flourish for generations to come. Donate today to help us continue planting the seeds of a resilient Bay Area via the link in our bio. It’s officially Earth Month! As spring breathes new life into the Bay Area, we’re seeding change and fostering deep connections between communities and nature. Join us in preserving the legacy and beauty of our region’s ecosystems, ensuring they flourish for generations to come. 🌱 Donate today to help us continue planting the seeds of a resilient Bay Area via the link in our bio.

We envision a resilient Bay Area where every community not only survives, but thrives under a changing environment: 🌳 Access to green spaces and working lands for all communities. 🏢 Affordable, climate-friendly homes in every city. 🔥 Wildfire-prone communities protected by well-maintained greenbelts. 🌊 Flood-prepared shoreline, creekside, and riverside communities with resilient nature-based infrastructure. Read more about our roadmap to get there: greenbelt.org/strategic-plan

Take a trip to @cityofsanjose with Greenbelt Alliance! Hop on @gocaltrain with @seamlessbayarea to learn about improving our region’s public transit system, before lunching at @spsmarket. Our staff and Ned the Banana Slug had so much fun on our urban outing! Huge shout out to Chance for coordinating such a fun-filled day for us!

How can we support the necessary development of more homes while protecting vital landscapes for climate resilience? In the case of Solano County, they’re committed to an “Orderly Growth” initiative—which focuses growth within existing cities and prohibits development of agriculturally-zoned lands without voter approval. This remains a core value of residents since its first approval in 1984 and reinforced in the 2008 General Plan. It isn’t about stifling progress—it’s about striking the delicate balance between urban and rural landscapes. As developments such as #CaliforniaForever encroaches on agricultural lands, the potential for disinvestment in existing cities grows. We had a chance to chat with community leaders Princess Washington, Aiden Mayhood, Marilyn Farley and Duane Kromm as members of the coalition Solano Together about why responsible growth is key to preserving our communities. Let’s champion development that respects our roots and nurtures our shared future. 💚🌍 #CommunityVoices #SolanoCounty #ProtectOurCities #ProtectOpenSpaces

Community outreach for the California Forever massive sprawl development project in Solano is underway—but does that mean Flannery Associates is listening? Recent community meetings were markedby tightly controlled town halls, obscured agendas,restricted access, curated lists of questions, and Solano County residents grappling to protect their communities. In the coming days, CA Forever will host more town halls. But Solano residents deserve transparency, a future rooted in community voices, and protection against sprawl development that will drain public resources and destroy critical open space. 💚 Join us in the fight and stay tuned for more updates: greenbelt.org/protect-solano-from-sprawl #climateresilience #CaliforniaForever

Welcome to the Blueprint for the Future! We had a memorable night aboard the @historicklamath ferry ⛴️ to celebrate our 65 years of action for people and lands in the Bay Area. Thanks to the support of our loyal community and sponsors, we broke our fundraising record! Now, we are setting our sails towards the next 65 years of resilience. Cheers 🥂 Learn more about our six decades of impact: greenbelt.org/65years

Don’t be fooled by their buzzwords—car dependency looms in #CaliforniaForever 🚘🌆 greenbelt.org/blog/protectsolano