Allied organizations: Upcoming events and programs

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APA CA Northern strives to deliver events and programs to help you achieve your professional development and networking goals. Our allied professional organizations also offer events and programs in a variety of formats that you may find align well with your professional and continuing education goals.

Below are some notable upcoming event or program opportunities selected by the Northern News team.

TOGETHER Bay Area – is a regional coalition of nonprofits, public agencies, and local Native governments / organizations / communities working together for climate resilient lands – including lands that are natural, working, rural, and urban. The health of these lands is integral to a thriving Bay Area and the health of all of the people and communities in our 10 county region. They connect, convene, and catalyze action for a just and equitable society where we live in relationship with the land that sustains us now and will sustain future generations.

Connecting Urban Biodiversity: Integrating Communities, Cities & Regional Conservation | Open to all

10:00 to 11:00 a.m. | Wednesday, February 5, 2025 | Online
Fee: Free

How can community science illuminate the value of urban areas for biodiversity conservation?

From 2021-2024, the Connecting Urban Biodiversity (CUB) project has been exploring this question, and learning how we can better integrate urban areas into regional conservation planning and action. Through this partnership between TOGETHER Bay Area and the California Academy of Sciences, and along with other partners, we’ve learned a lot and are excited to celebrate the culmination of our project with you.

You’re invited to hear how the CUB project brought together urban partners across the region to benefit people and nature in conservation planning, and connect with like-minded practitioners and lovers of the natural world. Thanks to the State Coastal Conservancy for funding this project!

More information and REGISTER

SPUR — the San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association — is a nonprofit public policy organization bringing people together from across the political spectrum to develop solutions to the big problems cities face. Based in San Francisco, San José and Oakland, SPUR is recognized as a leading civic planning organization and respected for its independent and holistic approach to urban issues.

SPUR Book Club: Human Transit [In-Person Forum]

12:30 to 1:30 p.m. | Wednesday, February 5, 2025 | SPUR Urban Center, San Francisco, CA
Fee: Free

SPUR’s Quarterly Book Club provides a unique opportunity to explore books that intersect with our core policy areas, all while engaging directly with the authors behind the ideas. This winter, we’re excited to host transportation expert Jarrett Walker for a lively discussion of his newly updated and expanded work, Human Transit: Revised Edition.

Transportation expert Jarrett Walker believes that transit can be simple, if we focus on the underlying geometry that all transit systems share. Jarrett’s gift is being able to break down the basic principles of public transit so that you may have the tools necessary to clarify and advocate for your own values.

More information and REGISTER

Aligning Policy and Financing for Scalable, Sustainable Affordable Housing

5:00 to 7:30 p.m. | Thursday, February 6, 2025 | SPUR Urban Center, San Francisco, CA
Fee: Free

The Bay Area’s affordable housing crisis requires a comprehensive, equity-focused strategy that combines innovative financing with bold policy solutions. The Partnership for the Bay’s Future (PBF) is effectively addressing this issue by collaborating with local governments and community organizations to develop housing policies, resulting in the passage of 13 community-centered policies. Additionally, PBF’s Family of Loan Funds helps overcome financial barriers by providing necessary capital, enabling the financing of over 4,700 affordable homes. This discussion will highlight PBF’s impactful approach, share insights and challenges, and offer practical strategies for similar initiatives. The event will also celebrate the launch of the PBF Playbook, a detailed guide to their methodology. 

More information and REGISTER

The Urgent Need for Reform in California’s Home Insurance Market

12:30 to 1:30 p.m. | Tuesday, February 11, 2025 | SPUR Urban Center, San Francisco, CA
Fee: Free

This event is part of: A BOLD FUTURE FOR EQUITABLE HOUSING IN CALIFORNIA: A SERIES OF EVENTS ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING SOLUTIONS

Earthquakes in California can result in catastrophic damage, depending on where they occur. In the event of a magnitude 7.0 earthquake on the Hayward fault, building damage from shaking could displace 77,000 households. But the number could rise to 152,000 households when considering other factors such as utility outages and fires. By providing financial incentives for code-compliant retrofits of single-family dwellings, the California Earthquake Authority’s (CEA) Earthquake Brace + Bolt and Earthquake Soft-Story programs are helping to make California residential construction more resilient to catastrophic earthquakes. Join us for a discussion with Janiele Maffei, chief mitigation officer at CEA, to discuss how these programs reduce barriers to advancing seismic safety in California.

More information and REGISTER

San Francisco’s Economic Outlook: A Discussion with Local Experts

8:30 to 10:00 a.m. | Wednesday, February 19, 2025 | SPUR Urban Center, San Francisco, CA
Fee: Free

San Francisco is a key employment hub known for innovation and venture capital, but it lags behind other major cities in areas such as return-to-office rates, commercial vacancy, tourism, and construction. These economic challenges significantly affect downtown and nearby neighborhoods. A presentation featuring Ted Egan, the Chief Economist of San Francisco, and Alexander Quinn, JLL’s Director of Research for Northern California, will address these economic trends and explore potential solutions.

More information and REGISTER

What It Will Take to Fix Oakland’s Budget Deficit

5:30 to 7:00 p.m. | Thursday, February 20, 2025 | Fluid 510 (former SPUR OAK office), Oakland, CA
Fee: Free

Oakland is facing a critical budget shortfall of $129 million this year, with an additional $280 million expected over the next two years. Leadership changes add to the city’s challenges, which are rooted in structural issues contributing to its fiscal distress. Despite these difficulties, Oakland is recognized for its creativity and resilience. The city is working on its budget process and aims to stabilize during this transition, seeking solutions to its long-standing structural deficit and striving for fiscal sustainability. 

More information and REGISTER
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