What we do.
At San Leandro 2050, we focus on what we can do together, right here in our communities, to reduce emissions, build a more livable city, and support one another as our climate changes. From short-term projects to ongoing programs, there’s a lot happening—take a look at what we’re working on.
Have an idea that fits our goals?
Share it with us through our idea proposal form.
Community
Food Garden
Rooted at the Bancroft Resilience Hub, our community food garden brings people together to grow, share, and celebrate healthy food. With 40 shared beds, we cultivate everything from kale and bok choy to beans and tomatoes, fruit trees and pollinator-friendly blooms. It’s a space for learning from one another and enjoying the harvest as a community. Participation is free, and new gardeners are always welcome—come get your hands in the soil and grow with us!
Bancroft Resilience Hub
The Bancroft Resilience Hub is a partnership between Bethel Community Presbyterian Church and San Leandro 2050. The Hub hosts a food pantry, our community food garden, an emergency communications center, shared kitchen, and gathering spaces for San Leandro 2050 events, workshops, and meetings. The site also serves as a living lab, showcasing energy-efficient building upgrades alongside eco-friendly gardens with native plants and rainwater capture. It’s a place to learn, connect, and see what community climate action can look like.
Climate-friendly Gardens
Increasingly extreme weather disrupts ecosystems and makes it harder for plants and wildlife to thrive. Our rain garden and native plant garden at the Bancroft Resilience Hub—built by community members like you—show how landscape choices can ease these effects. Rain gardens capture, filter, and store stormwater, while locally adapted plants support pollinators and create habitat. Join our workshops and tours to get hands-on guidance, inspiration, and tips for creating your own climate-ready garden.
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Clean Air Initiative
Burning fossil fuels not only drives climate change but also pollutes the air, contributing to asthma and other lung diseases. These impacts are often greatest in neighborhoods near busy roads and industrial areas. In partnership with air quality experts at Aclima, we’ve collected baseline data for San Leandro. We’re now working with neighborhood leaders to gather more localized data and help residents better understand how air pollution affects their health. Interested in learning more about this project?
More Green in the City
Each year, San Leandro faces more days of extreme heat. Paved surfaces trap that heat, especially in neighborhoods without enough trees for shade. Expanding urban greenery—from street trees to pocket parks—can help cool our city, but it’s more complex than it seems. Questions around land use, long-term plant care, funding, and coordination can slow things down. San Leandro 2050 is working with regional partners to create a comprehensive plan and clear process for lasting impact. Meanwhile, there are hands-on opportunities to support greening efforts.
Walking, Biking and Public Transport
Many San Leandrans want safer, more walkable and bike-friendly neighborhoods—especially downtown. But traffic safety concerns, gaps in the current bike path network, and limited transit options often keep people in their cars. San Leandro 2050 is working with the City and regional agencies to better understand residents’ needs, improve bike and pedestrian infrastructure, and add more bike parking. We also offer bike safety and repair workshops so more people can ride with confidence.
Living Better with Less Stuff
From clothes to electronics to disposable coffee cups, so much of what we use is made to be quickly replaced. That means more resources used, more fuel for transport, and more waste. Let’s slow down and learn to repair, reuse, and appreciate what we have. Join a mending workshop to share skills and celebrate creativity, or take a cooking class to prepare homegrown veggies and make the most of the food we love. New ideas welcome!
Community Listening
The foundation of our work is deep engagement with residents across San Leandro—because projects only succeed when they reflect community needs and priorities. By walking the neighborhoods, joining local gatherings, and creating welcoming spaces, we build trust and invite honest feedback and new ideas. What we hear about the community’s fears and hopes for our shared future, related to climate and beyond, has shaped our five-year plan for reducing local emissions and continues to guide all aspects of our work.
Language Access Network
Many San Leandro residents speak a language other than English at home, most commonly Spanish or Cantonese. Even those fluent in English feel more comfortable, respected, and heard when they can express themselves in their native language. Our community-based team of volunteer interpreters and cultural ambassadors helps bridge the communication gap at San Leandro 2050 events, ranging from small group listening sessions to community gatherings. Want to learn more or join the network?
