---
title: Thrive E&S April 22, 2021 Meeting- SMC Open Spaces & Natural Places
description: Earth day 2021 meeting recap!
image: https://info.thrivealliance.org/hubfs/natural_places%20v2-1.jpg
---

[![NorthRiver](https://info.thrivealliance.org/hubfs/Thrive%20Logos/nav+bar+logo-1.png)](https://www.thrivealliance.org/)

[![NorthRiver](https://info.thrivealliance.org/hubfs/Thrive%20Logos/nav+bar+logo-1.png)](https://www.thrivealliance.org/)

 read

# Thrive E&S April 22, 2021 Meeting- SMC Open Spaces & Natural Places

By Rebekah Townsend

![](https://info.thrivealliance.org/hubfs/natural_places%20v2-1.jpg)

### Celebrating Leadership in Advocacy, Equity, & Stewardship on Earth Day

Thursday, April 22, 3:30 - 5:00 pm, [Zoom Recording](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M19yaBhDtNU) & [Slides](https://thrivealliance.box.com/s/yth4wdi8w8zwlghnueva3v5tr4ufwbta)

On April 22, Thrive brought together 11 organizations to share their goals and programming in protecting open spaces. With over 70 in attendance, we heard from each organization about their passion for our local lands as we celebrated Earth Day, 2021.

Discussion ranged from favorite hikes to current programs and projects preserving county land, and equity goals. Programs highlighted included San Bruno Mountain Botanical Garden, habitat restoration projects, Ravenswood Bay Trail, Grassroots Ecology native plant nursery, Green Foothills advocacy program, and Friends of Edgewood Junior Explorers program. 

Learn more about each organization and how to get involved by exploring their sites below!

Speakers and Organizations:

[Filoli Historic House and Garden](https://filoli.org/)- Alex Fernandez, Chief Operating Officer

[Friends of Edgewood Natural Preserve](https://friendsofedgewood.org/)- Peter Ingram, President 

[Grassroots Ecology](https://www.grassrootsecology.org/)- Junko Bryant, Assistant Director

[Green Foothills- Megan Fluke, Executive Director](https://www.greenfoothills.org/)

[Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District](https://www.openspace.org/)- Joshua Hugg, Governmental Affairs Specialist

[San Bruno Mountain Watch](https://www.mountainwatch.org/)- Ariel Cherbowsky Corkidi, Director

[San Mateo Resource Conservation District- Sara Polgar, Conservation Program Specialist](http://www.sanmateorcd.org/)

[SMC Parks Department](https://parks.smcgov.org/)- Hannah Ormshaw, Natural Resources Manager

[SMC Parks Foundation](https://supportparks.org/)- Michele Beasley, Executive Director

[Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter- Gladwyn D'Souza, Committee Co-Chair](https://www.sierraclub.org/loma-prieta)

[Sequoia Audubon Society](http://www.sequoia-audubon.org/)- Marshall Dinowitz, Board Member 

 

Resources:

- `Green Foothills- Steps toward allyship with local Native Americans`
- Grassroots Ecology- [Youth Stewards Program](https://www.grassrootsecology.org/youth-stewards)

 

 

 

 

 

 

- <https://www.linkedin.com/company/thrive-alliance/>
- <https://twitter.com/ThriveAlliance>
- <https://www.instagram.com/thrivealliancesmc/?hl=en>
- <https://www.facebook.com/ThriveAllianceSMC>
- <https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7ava9zKsgwB4UOOgyr5Zng>

- © 2021 Thrive Alliance All Rights Reserved