John Ebneter was a member of the first-ever Green Foothills Leadership Program class in 2013-14. In 2015 he became a Planning Commissioner for the City of San Mateo, a position in which he continues to serve today. He also volunteers with a housing advocacy group. With a background in construction and a dedication to social equity and to protecting the environment, he works to ensure that his city makes smart urban planning decisions.

“My core environmental advocacy today is in the housing arena,” John said. “Housing is key to many of our social and … environmental issues that need to be addressed. I strongly feel we have not made the right policy decisions to address these very connected issues. It manifests in my life as a voice for social justice change in my capacity as a planning commissioner and housing/environmental advocate.”

San Mateo, like many Peninsula cities, faces climate-driven challenges, including rising groundwater and storm-induced flooding. “My biggest environmental concern is the issue of high water tables due to sea level rise that are impacting the low-lying areas, mostly inhabited by people of color,” he said, adding that he is concerned about what kind of world his grandchildren will live in, and that he wants to ensure future generations have a good quality of life.

John signed up for the first-ever Green Foothills Leadership Program class to learn more effective ways to listen and incorporate diverse perspectives into his leadership roles. At the time, he was working in construction and volunteering for the Samaritan House of San Mateo County and for the Sierra Club.

“The [Green Foothills Leadership] Program exceeded my expectations in its ability to open my eyes to lived experiences of people of varying social and economic backgrounds, and how to incorporate this new knowledge in my quest for a more just community,” he said. “ I became more in tune to the inequality in our communities and have made that and environmental justice a focal point of my leadership roles.” He increasingly began to seek out the perspectives and listen to the voices of people who were in marginalized positions in society.

The program also fostered lasting connections. “I am in contact with a few of the members of my class and we have built bonds that have lasted for years,” he said.

The Green Foothills Leadership Program is offered in English and Spanish, and is tuition-free thanks to support from generous donors. Applications are due in the fall. To learn more, see greenfoothills.org/lead.