When: September 20, 2024, 01:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Presentation Description: During the 1990s, San Luis Obispo created and preserved an open space greenbelt. This presentation will place San Luis Obispo’s land preservation in the broader context of 20th century environmental movements and delve into the local political history that navigated the competing forces of economic development and environmental protection.

Speaker Bio: In 2013, my family embarked on a new chapter in San Luis Obispo. After a career teaching high school social studies and civics, I decided to pursue a master’s in American History with research focused on the political history of the San Luis Obispo green belt. Finding myself in the historic archives and engaged in interviews with local leaders from past and present, I decided to fulfill a lifelong dream of running for local office and joined the San Luis Obispo City Council in 2022. The lessons learned from civic leaders of the past and a desire to continue the legacy of conservation and sustainability have been instrumental in shaping my relationship with this city and its future.