We are committed to Diversity, Equity,
Inclusion, and Belonging.

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are at the core of Leadership Council SMC's work including governance, organizational culture, and leadership development opportunities.

Leadership Council SMC is committed to supporting efforts across the County to ensure that those who live or work here see leadership as representative, accessible, and achievable by all.

The Inclusion Counts Team of Amber Checky, CEO & Founder, and Heather Checky, CFO & Founder, pose for a photo during the “Building an Inclusive Community” Learning Day.
Emerging Leaders in the Class of 2023, Patty Koch, Deputy Fire Marshal at the Central County Fire Department, and Federico Pacheco, Senior Public Affairs Manager at Gilead Sciences, pose for photo outside the City of San Mateo Library.
Andrew Knaack, County of San Mateo Equity and Belonging Associate, and Colleen Lettire, City of Half Moon Bay Communications Program Manager, practice their secret handshake during the “Building an Inclusive Community” Learning Day.
Members of the Leadership CORPS Class of 2022 work on a small-group exercise together. From right to left: Lisa Perry, Redwood City Community Leader, Dana Johnson, Co-Chair for County of San Mateo’s LGBTQ Commission and PRIDE Initiative, and James Moore, City of San Mateo Librarian.

Representative Leadership

Those who live and work in San Mateo County must see local leadership as a reflection of their communities. Through community participation in our programs, we demonstrate the diverse perspectives and lived experiences that should be at every decision-making table.

Members of the CORPS Class of 2023 Regional Learning Team meet San Mateo County District 1 Supervisor Dave Pine in his conference room and share their research on childcare issues facing the county.
Patricia Love, Executive Director, Strategy and Communications at the San Mateo County Office of Education,Kate Hiester, Peninsula Regional Director of Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY), and Kalimah Salahuddin, Co-Founder of REACH Coalition, Jefferson Union High School District Trustee, and CORPS Class of 2022 Alumni, pose during a Learning Day.

Developing the Leadership Pipeline

Through our intentional outreach, our program participants reflect the demographics of SMC.

We Are Accountable

Every person must feel welcome and represented in our programs. Our goal is for anyone who lives or works in San Mateo County to see leadership as representative, accessible, and achievable. We hold ourselves accountable for this work by setting objectives and measurable goals.

The Emerging Leaders Community Acceleration Team posed for a photo with their partners from OneShoreline in the meeting room at the City of San Mateo Library after their successful Resilient Communities Workshop. The Emerging Leaders CAP Team included Andrea Chow, City of San Mateo Sustainability Analyst, Babs Deffenderfer, SMC Housing and Community Development Supervisor, Kamille Lang, SMC Office of Sustainability’s Climate Action Specialist, and Colleen Lettire, City of Half Moon Bay Communications Program Manager.

Our Statistics

Gender

CORPS
Class of 2022
Applicant Pool 2022-2023
(CORPS + Emerging Leaders)

RACE

CORPS
Class of 2022
Applicant Pool 2022-2023
(CORPS + Emerging Leaders)