The California Stewardship Network (CSN) convened last week in San Francisco for the first of two CSN Exchanges to be held in 2025. CSN member and Exchange Host, Bay Area Council, hosted regional partners aboard their offices on The Historic Klamath. Among the topics discuss by the CSN were new organizational revenue models and the impact of current federal science and technology funding on the continued deployment of artificial intelligence (AI). A planning session, facilitated by partners at Applied Wisdom, surfaced ideas and priorities that will inform the structure and curriculum of the next edition of the Becky Morgan Steward Leadership Program.
A session on disaster response and resilience, organized by CSN members and CA FWD, provided lessons learned from recent wildfires, while also sharing efforts that are underway to create more climate resiliency in the budgets of local governments in California. The CSN also heard from CSN Co-Chair Alysia Bell, President, UNITE-LA and Abby Raisz, Research Director at the Bay Area Council’s Economic Institute, about the socioeconomic impacts of mass deportations on California’s economy. Referencing the findings of a recent report, it is estimated that mass deportations may cost the state’s economy $275 billion.
The CSN immersed itself in Bay Area public transit as they experienced ridership aboard a ferry, rail, buses, and historic streetcars. A visit to Oakland’s Jack London Square provided the CSN with insight into the community’s ongoing challenges but also opportunities that are on the horizon. A first-hand glimpse into the passion of Bay Area sports fandom was experienced by the CSN as they toured Oracle Park and took in a game between the San Francisco Giants and Miami Marlins. Oracle Park is the first and only major league ballpark to receive all three U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) certifications for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Existing Buildings, Operations and Maintenance (EBOM).
Between the electricity at the stadium, the delicious meals in the city, the remarkable views aboard The Historic Klamath, and beyond, the CSN was reminded just how lucky we are as Californians to have a magical place like San Francisco within arm’s reach.
