Is this election boring? Should you sit this one out?
The pundits say the presidential nominees of the major parties are settled and voters might sit this one out, despite all the other races. What happens in local elections impacts us and our communities more than the presidency. We all need to be excited about these elections, and we at Thrive hope to generate interest through our candidate forums, elections toolkit, and trainings.
In addition to the many local city councils, school board, and special district elections, one of California's US Senate seats, which was held by Diane Feinstein for more than 30 years, and the 16th District Congressional seat, which was held by Anna Eshoofor more than two decades, are both on the ballot. The 16th District includes Atherton, La Honda, Ladera, Loma Mar, Menlo Park, Pacifica, Half Moon Bay, Pescadero, Portola Valley, and Woodside in San Mateo County.
There are also three open seats for the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, which controls a $4+ billion budget and is the direct government for unincorporated areas of the county. There are contested elections in District 1 (San Mateo Highlands and the Baywood Park neighborhood, Burlingame, Burlingame Hills, Hillsborough, Millbrae, San Bruno, South San Francisco [east of El Camino Real] and the San Francisco Airport) and District 4 (Redwood City, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and North Fair Oaks). Supervisor David Canepa is running unopposed for reelection in District 5 (Brisbane, Colma, Daly City, San Bruno [north of Sneath lane and west of Interstate 280], South San Francisco [west of Interstate 280 until Avalon Drive then west of Junipero Serra Boulevard, and north of Hickey, Hillside and Sister Cities Boulevard to Highway 101] with Unincorporated Broadmoor Village, San Bruno Mountain Park and Brisbane Quarry).
Thrive would like you to be informed about all of the candidates, and, as usual, we want to make sure that the candidates are as informed as possible about the issues and needs of nonprofits. Please join us for our candidate forums (see below for more information). We will offer Spanish interpretation, and recordings will be available in English and Spanish on Thrive's YouTube channel.
Voting starts Tuesday, February 5, and the last date to vote is March 5.
In countywide races, if any candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, then the election is decided and will not appear on the November ballot.
California has a “top-two” primary system, so all elections will have the top two vote-getters go on to November, regardless of party.
Only registered Republicans can vote for that party’s nominee for president. You can change your registration online or at any vote center.
You can change your voter registration, re-register, or get language or other assistance at any Vote Center, which are all open Saturday, March 2 - Tuesday, March 5.
You can vote by mail, use a drop box, or go to a Vote Center.
Don’t forget to be patient with the results! We are unlikely to know all of the results on election night, especially in local elections, which are often decided by the smallest of margins (reminder-your vote counts!)
For Thrive and community events or to submit an event, visit Thrive's Event page.
State Policy Updates
Understanding Proposition 1
California Proposition 1, set for a March 5, 2024 vote, is a two-part initiative targeting improved access to behavioral health services. The proposal includes amending the Mental Health Services Act and establishing a $6.38 billion bond for funding behavioral health treatment and supportive housing. While addressing homelessness among those with severe behavioral health conditions, the initiative may impact county services by restructuring funding from the Mental Health Services Act.
County Policy Updates
New Homelessness Approach
Supervisors Pine and Slocum put forth two ordinances called Hopeful Horizons and Empowering Lives that outline a new approach to increasing the acceptance of shelter and support among those who are unhoused in unincorporated San Mateo County, where there are eight encampments. Read the press release.
San Mateo County Controller has released the 'Annual Comprehensive Financial Report' for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. The report includes audited financial statements, analysis, and detailed information on the County's finances, emphasizing the General Fund's role in financing day-to-day and long-term operations.
New Year, New Rules – Explore the Latest Laws in Effect
Please notify Yajaira Ortega if your organization wants a digital toolkit from Thrive. Organizations who signed up using our request form will find their branded brochures in this public folder.
Advocacy 101: Transforming Nonprofits into Effective Changemakers
TODAY, January 29, 3:00 - 5:00 pm, In-Person
Every nonprofit can and should have a policy advocacy strategy that advances its mission and helps nonprofits be effective allies to grassroots social justice changemakers. Advocacy is one of the important strategies nonprofits can take to bring the community’s attention to the issues they care about and bring about meaningful change for the people they serve.
One of the greatest myths about nonprofits is that they cannot participate in advocacy or lobbying. However, with the right tools and information, you can make policy advocacy work for your organization and your community. Advocacy can include numerous activities such as policy research, public education, lobbying elected officials, educating the media, and voter engagement.
In this workshop, attendees will learn:
High-level but essential information about how nonprofits can legally get involved in issue-based advocacy work and the key differences between advocacy and lobbying;
The essential components of nonprofit advocacy, including a recap of how to establish an advocacy shop, analyzing and prioritizing issues, campaigning, and coalition work, among others;
How to include the community you serve and your Board in setting organizational advocacy priorities and in advocacy activities; and
Tips and tricks from expert panelists as they share their advocacy stories from the field.
Candidate Forum: District 4, San Mateo County Board of Supervisors
TOMORROW, January 30, 6:00 - 8:00 pm, In Person
Thrive Alliance and Leadership Council San Mateo County, are hosting a candidate forum to elevate the most pressing issues of nonprofits and their communities in San Mateo County. The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors oversees county departments, programs, and property, with an annual budget of over $4 billion.
Candidates In Attendance:
Paul Bocanegra, Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Commissioner - Legislative Coordinator, County of San Mateo
All districts have changed since the 2020 census report and the redistricting process that followed. District 4 includes the cities of Redwood City, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and North Fair Oaks.
Thrive Alliance and Leadership Council San Mateo County are non-endorsing and nonpartisan organizations.
Se ofrece interpretación en español.
Spanish interpretation is available. Please reach out to Yajaira Ortega if you require additional accommodations or have inquiries about accessibility.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby: Climate Solutions District 16 Candidate Panels
Thursday, February 1 & Monday, February 5, Virtual
The San Mateo, Silicon Valley North, and Silicon Valley South chapters of Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL), in partnership with Thrive Alliance, Acterra, 350 Silicon Valley, Sustainable San Mateo County, and Sustainable Silicon Valley will host two virtual panels with the 10 candidates (5 on each panel) running for Anna Eshoo’s seat (CA CD16) on Thursday, February 1, and Monday, February 5 from 7:00 - 8:30 PM. Attendees will leave with a new understanding of what the 10 candidates will do on matters pertaining to climate and environmental solutions.
Where: Zoom (see links below) Cost: Free of charge How to participate: Registration required.
Click here to register for the February 1 panel with Joby Bernstein, Evan Low, Julie Lythcott-Haims, Joe Simitian, and Greg Lin Tanaka
Click here to register for the February 5 panel with Peter Dixon, Rishi Kumar, Sam Liccardo, Ahmed Mostafa and Peter Ohtaki
There are two nights due to the large number. Be sure to register for both nights to see all the candidates.
Candidate Conversation on Children: San Mateo County Board of Supervisors Races
Monday, February 5, 5:30 - 7:00 pm, In-Person
Thrive Alliance and Choose Children, a project of Silicon Valley Community Foundation, invite you to attend a county-wide conversation with candidates for County Supervisor as they discuss critical children’s issues and their plans to shape a county where children and families can thrive.
If you are concerned about the issues facing children, including affordable and high-quality child care and learning environments and the mental health of children and families, join this event to learn where the candidates stand on these issues and their plans for addressing them.
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors oversees county departments, programs, and property, with an annual budget of over $4 billion.
Candidates In Attendance:
Paul Bocanegra, Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Commissioner - Legislative Coordinator, County of San Mateo
Thrive Alliance and Choose Children are non-endorsing and nonpartisan organizations.
Se ofrece interpretación en español.
Spanish interpretation is available. Please reach out to Yajaira Ortega if you require additional accommodations or have inquiries about accessibility.
The San Mateo Public Library facilities are being rented for this event. The viewpoints and materials presented at this event are not necessarily endorsed by the City of San Mateo or the San Mateo Public Library.
Candidate Forum: U.S. Representative, 16th District
The time and location are TBD.
Here is a link to a map of District 16, which includes:
San Mateo County
Atherton, La Honda, Ladera, Loma Mar, Menlo Park, Pacifica, Half Moon Bay, Pescadero, Portola Valley, Woodside
Santa Clara County
Campbell, Cambrian Park, Fruitdale, Lexington Hills, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Parts of San Jose, including unincorporated communities, Saratoga, Stanford
Summit for Partnerships in Education: Elevating Racial Justice in SMC
Thursday, February 15, 8:30 am - 2:30 pm, In-Person
Join us for an inspiring event focused on elevating racial justice in San Mateo County! The San Mateo County Office of Education, Thrive Alliance, and Stanford Haas Center for Public Service are proud to host The Summit for Partnerships in Education, which aims to bring together educators, community leaders, and advocates to discuss and collaborate on ways to promote equity and inclusivity in our schools and community. This in-person event will be held in Burlingame.
By attending, you will have the opportunity to hear from community-based organizations, schools, and districts engage in thought-provoking discussions, attend informative workshops, and network with like-minded individuals who are passionate about fostering a more equitable education system. Together, we can work towards creating a brighter future for all students in San Mateo County.
Thrive RISE January Meeting: An Introduction to Cold Impacts on Health and the County's Inclement Weather Program
Wednesday, January 31, 10:00 - 11:00 am, Virtual
Cold weather can result in poor health outcomes, and even death, for those that are unhoused or who otherwise lack proper heating resources. Individuals most at risk for hypothermia are people experiencing homelessness, older adults with inadequate food and heating resources, infants in cold bedrooms, and substance users. Join our January COAD meeting with representatives from the County of San Mateo Health and Human Services Agency to learn more about cold impacts on the human body, how social vulnerability exacerbates the risk of cold weather, and how the County’s Inclement Weather Program is working to expand shelter availability for unhoused individuals on cold nights.
All organizations are welcome at this meeting, regardless of sector or experience in responding to community emergencies. Registration is not required for these recurring meetings. Please save this link as a recurring event on your calendar for the last Wednesday of the month.
Coordinating Staff Roles in Disaster - An Introduction to Incident Command System for Nonprofits
Wednesday, February 21, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, In-Person
The Incident Command System (ICS) is a framework that emergency workers use to efficiently organize and manage response efforts during disasters. Because the nonprofit sector plays a major role in disaster response, it is essential that San Mateo County nonprofits are trained in and apply ICS principles to their own emergency response efforts.
This two-hour interactive, in-person workshop will provide a brief background on ICS and show you how to adapt ICS principles to your organization’s emergency planning. Participants will practice applying these principles to realistic disaster scenarios and will walk away with templates for creating Emergency Response Plans and Teams. As with all COAD trainings, this will be an opportunity to connect with other San Mateo County nonprofits that are active in emergency preparedness and response. This workshop is designed for nonprofits but is open to all.
Rafael Avendaño, Executive Director, of Redwood City Together, will lead an interactive workshop with a space for vulnerability and co-learning among nonprofit leaders to reflect on individual management journeys and management styles. You will learn about new methods that can support the organizational culture that you lead and how to become a dream manager. We will also be announcing the HR Affinity Group, which will serve as a way to stay connected and engaged beyond the training sessions.
Nonprofit leaders and HR professionals of all backgrounds and nonprofit sizes are welcome to attend this session. There will be ample time for sharing ideas over lunch.
The first 30 people to register will receive a complementary copy of The Dream Manager by Matthew Kelly, which we will be citing during the session. Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your leadership skills and come away with valuable resources.
Learn about their leadership pathways from local non-profit executive directors and city council members in Redwood City. These leaders will discuss how they organize and advocate for the communities they serve and share their vision for Redwood City. Learn more here.
As announced on the official website of the County of San Mateo, recruitment has commenced to form a new independent civilian advisory commission for the Sheriff's Office. The commission aims to provide civilian perspectives and input on matters related to law enforcement. Learn more here. The County is seeking diversity in voices, participation
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