Mission

Urban Ecology works on four levels. The organization educates individuals through publications and forums; undertakes neighborhood change through community planning projects; seeks policy reform at the local government level; and serves as a leader in planning sustainable regions, with a special focus on the San Francisco Bay Area.

Issues

Community organizing, Transportation, Urban Sprawl, Urban planning, Community development

Activities

Technical assistance, Workshops/conferences, Organizing, Advocacy

Programs/
Projects

Urban Ecology's Community Design program demonstrates how a sustainable vision embraces both social justice and environmental health in the country's cities. In collaboration with grassroots groups in low-income neighborhoods, Urban Ecology creates plans that improve a neighborhood's environmental health, stabilize the local economy, and achieve a more equitable distribution of resources. Urban Ecology's Sustainable Cities program was founded to encourage compact, sustainable land use patterns in the cities and suburbs of the Bay Area. The organization builds networks of individuals and constituencies around the Bay Area that may be active on local development issues, but are rarely connected with like-minded groups to demonstrate growing public support for compact land use and development policies. They use education and outreach, including educational workshops and public presentations, to educate people about land use. Through project evaluation criteria and a developers network, they encourage developers to create more sustainable projects and work proactively with communities. Sustainable Cities also undertakes policy advocacy related to planning processes. Urban Ecology advises the Land Use Advocacy Network by sponsoring conferences and workshops, developing educational materials and maintaining a website for land use activists. They also participate in the Bay Area Transportation and Land Use Coalition.

Constitutency

Multi-ethnic, Low income

Geographical Focus

Regional

Staff

5

Volunteers

For specific events

Membership Base

Planners, architects and government officials

Publications

List available on the web

Annuual Budget

$100,000 - $500,000

Year Founded

1975