Oakland 2025-2026 | Resilient Roots

Oakland Shoreline Leadership Training Program

2025-2026 Cohort

Program Duration: August 2026 – March 2027
Climate Leaders Summit: March 2027
Format: Cohort-based program | Approximately two sessions or public shoreline field trips per month (one on a Wednesday evening, one on a Saturday afternoon)
Location: Oakland shoreline and Port-adjacent areas
Stipend: $1200

About

Resilient Roots is a community-based education and leadership program that builds resident knowledge, confidence, and capacity around shoreline restoration and climate adaptation.

Grounded in Environmental Justice principles and aligned with Port of Oakland priorities, the program supports frontline community members in understanding climate risks, interpreting technical information, and communicating adaptation strategies to peers, decision-makers, and the broader public.

Using a train-the-trainer model, fellows engage in place-based learning that centers lived experience while demystifying planning, regulatory, and scientific processes shaping the Oakland shoreline. The program strengthens community leadership in climate resilience by connecting local knowledge with institutional tools and policy frameworks.

Photo: Oakland Shoreline Leadership Academy, Courtesy of Keta Price

What Makes This Program Unique

Place-Based & Community-Led
Every session and field trip is grounded in Oakland's shoreline landscapes and the lived experiences of waterfront communities.

Train-the-Trainer Model
Fellows don't just learn—they become educators. The program builds capacity for fellows to teach others and engage decision-makers.

Environmental Justice at the Core
We center the communities disproportionately impacted by climate change and ensure their voices shape planning and policy.

Partnership with Port of Oakland
Direct connection to the agency managing Oakland's shoreline, with opportunities to influence real planning processes.

Core Learning Areas

The program addresses key Port environmental and climate resilience goals through an accessible, applied curriculum, including:

Climate Change & Flood Hazards
Sea level rise, stormwater, coastal flooding, groundwater intrusion, and changing precipitation patterns, with attention to current and future climate conditions.

Environmental Programs & Regulatory Context
Trash, pollution, water quality; legacy soil and groundwater contamination; stormwater and sewer systems; regulatory permits; and emergency spill response.

Shoreline Restoration & Public Access
Habitat restoration, green and grey infrastructure, nature-based solutions, multi-modal access, and land-use equity.

Planning Tools & Decision-Making
Introduction to modeling and mapping (2D/3D), evaluating tidal and precipitation flooding, and translating technical tools into clear, community-relevant language.

Program Outcomes

By the end of the program, participants will:

Demonstrate increased knowledge and hands-on experience in shoreline restoration and climate adaptation
Develop or build upon a Sea Level Rise (SLR) adaptation scenario for a defined shoreline reach
Explain and justify selected strategies using data, community values, and Environmental Justice principles
Communicate complex planning concepts in accessible, plain language
Be prepared to serve as community educators, advocates, and shoreline stewards

Shoreline field trips (e.g., kayaking, biking, King Tide observation) provide opportunities for fellows to practice peer education and expand community learning. The program concludes with a public Shoreline Resilience Summit, where fellows present their SLR scenarios and engage community members, partners, and Port representatives in dialogue about equitable shoreline futures.

COORDINATION TEAM

Andrew Ha

State & Regional Resilience Sr. Associate

Greenbelt Alliance

Cailin Notch

East Bay Resilience Manager

Greenbelt Alliance

Fran McMillan

Marketing & Communications Associate

Greenbelt Alliance

Keta Price

Principal Planner

Hood Planning Group

Shy Walker

Director & Founder

Ninth Root

Tallulah Shepard

Marketing & Communications Manager

Greenbelt Alliance

Zoe Siegel

Sr. Director of Climate Resilience

Greenbelt Alliance

For over 65 years, Greenbelt Alliance has stewarded the Bay Area's natural landscapes while promoting sustainable community growth—resulting in almost 3.3 million acres of protected open space across nine counties. Today, the organization leverages its expertise in land-use policy advocacy and regional collaboration to address climate change through nature-based solutions. Greenbelt Alliance educates, advocates, and collaborates on data-driven policy solutions that help communities prepare for wildfires, floods, drought, and sea level rise, with a focus on equitable climate resilience for all Bay Area residents.

Port of Oakland

The Port of Oakland generates vital economic activity, community benefits and environmental innovation, as the Port decarbonizes its operations for a cleaner and greener future. Along with its partners, the Port supports 98,345 jobs in the region and $174 billion in annual economic activity. The Port oversees the Oakland Airport (OAK), the Oakland Seaport and nearly 20 miles of waterfront including Jack London Square and a publicly owned utility. The Port of Oakland is Everyone’s Port!