Green Foothills Foundation

TO PROTECT THE OPEN SPACES, FARMLANDS, AND NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE SAN MATEO AND SANTA CLARA COUNTIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL THROUGH ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND GRASSROOTS ACTION.

ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND GRASSROOTS ACTION. GREEN FOOTHILLS IS THE CHAMPION FOR NATURE AND WILDLIFE IN SAN MATEO AND SANTA CLARA COUNTIES. ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND GRASSROOTS ACTION HAS BEEN OUR LONG-STANDING VEHICLE FOR CHANGE. THE DESIRED IMPACTS OF OUR WORK ARE: 1) LAND USE DECISIONS AFFIRM AND SUPPORT OPEN SPACE, BIODIVERSITY, CLIMATE RESILIENCE, AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND 2) DIVERSE LEADERS AND COMMUNITIES CHAMPION CONSERVATION AND INCLUSION. WE ACHIEVE THIS BY: A) ENGAGING IN LOCAL LAND USE ISSUES: WE ENGAGE IN LAND USE POLICY, PROPOSALS, AND PLANNING PROCESSES THAT POSE AN OPPORTUNITY OR THREAT TO OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. WE CONDUCT THOROUGH RESEARCH AND SEEK COMMUNITY INPUT TO INFORM OUR ADVOCACY GOALS, B) EDUCATING DECISION MAKERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS: WE PROVIDE THE SUPPORT AND INFORMATION NEEDED FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE DECISION MAKERS TO BE CHAMPIONS FOR CONSERVATION AND INCLUSIVE PUBLIC PROCESSES, C) PARTNERING WITH AND MOBILIZING COMMUNITY MEMBERS: WE BRING TOGETHER AND MOBILIZE PEOPLE TO EFFECTIVELY NAVIGATE THE LAND USE PROCESS. WE TRAIN, MENTOR, AND LEARN FROM DIVERSE LEADERS AND COMMUNITIES IN EQUITABLE, INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISM. 2021 WAS THE MOST HISTORIC YEAR YET IN THE FIGHT FOR COYOTE VALLEY. SAN JOSE?S GENERAL PLAN NOW PREVENTS URBAN AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ON 3,300 ACRES OF THIS IRREPLACEABLE LANDSCAPE. IT IS EXCEPTIONAL FOR A MAJOR CITY TO DOWNZONE AN AREA OF THIS SIZE AND REJECT DECADES-LONG PLANS FOR SPRAWL IN FAVOR OF PROTECTING THE LAND FOR OPEN SPACE AND AGRICULTURE. ADDING TO THIS LANDMARK DECISION, THE COUNTY ADOPTED A NEW CLIMATE RESILIENCE DISTRICT TO BETTER SUPPORT AND ENHANCE FARMING. THESE TWO VOTES COMBINED CREATED PROTECTIONS FOR THE ENTIRE 7,400-ACRE VALLEY FLOOR. TOGETHER WITH OUR ALLIES, THE GREEN FOOTHILLS COMMUNITY MADE THIS HAPPEN, ESTABLISHING A FRAMEWORK FOR HOW LARGE CITIES CAN ADVANCE CLIMATE RESILIENCE, BIODIVERSITY, AND AGRICULTURE. THE VICTORY FOR COYOTE VALLEY IS JUST ONE PART OF OUR WORK IN 2021. OUR 2021 ANNUAL REPORT HIGHLIGHTS WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER, DETAILS OUR ORGANIZATIONAL FINANCIAL HEALTH, AND INCLUDES TESTIMONIALS SHARED BY GREEN FOOTHILLS SUPPORTERS (GREENFOOTHILLS.ORG/PUBLICATIONS). ADVOCACY: OUR ADVOCATES ENGAGED ON 34 LAND USE ISSUES IN 2021. FROM THE COAST TO THE BAYLANDS, FROM THE VALLEY TO THE HILLSIDES, WE GAVE A VOICE TO THE MOST AT-RISK HABITATS. OUR IMPACT IN 2021. 2021 IMPACT METRICS: 24,694 ACRES OF OPEN SPACE PROTECTED OR POSITIVELY IMPACTED, 9 VICTORIES ACHIEVED OUT OF 11 CONCLUDED LAND USE ISSUES, 10 KEY WILDLIFE AND PLANT SPECIES BENEFITED, 4 POLICIES OR PLANS ADOPTED BY GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, 34 LAND USE ISSUES IN TOTAL MONITORED AND ADVOCATED, 25 WERE IN COLLABORATION WITH A TOTAL OF 69 TRIBES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, 25,021 COMMENT LETTERS SENT IN RESPONSE TO OUR 28 CALLS TO ACTION WITH 22 FAVORABLE OUTCOMES, 117 ADDITIONAL LETTERS WERE IN RESPONSE TO OUR CALL TO THANK LEGISLATORS FOR THEIR VOTE.

LEADERSHIP PROGRAM WE LAUNCHED THE 9TH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM COHORT OF LOCAL CHANGE MAKERS IN SAN MATEO AND SANTA CLARA COUNTIES IN 2021. LEADERSHIP PROGRAM ALUMNI 1) ASSUME LEADERSHIP ROLES WHERE THEY APPLY A LENS OF ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY AND CULTURAL HUMILITY IN THEIR WORK; 2) INITIATE AND JOIN SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGNS THAT ADVANCE GREEN FOOTHILLS' MISSION AND VISION; AND 3) ARE INVOLVED IN THE GREEN FOOTHILLS COMMUNITY. 2021 IMPACT METRICS: 19 LOCAL CHANGEMAKERS GRADUATED FOR A TOTAL OF 219 ALUMNI SINCE 2014, 18 ALUMNI IN A NEW LEADERSHIP ROLE FOR A TOTAL OF 102 SINCE 2014, 1 INITIATIVE WON BY ALUMNI FOR A TOTAL OF 22 INITIATIVES SINCE 2014, 5 INITIATIVES LAUNCHED OR JOINED BY ALUMNI FOR A TOTAL OF 32 SINCE 2014.