East Bay Leadership Council

02/05/2026

06/16/2025

EBLC Member Spotlight: SHELTER, Inc.

SHELTER, Inc. has been working to end homelessness in Contra Costa, Solano, and Sacramento counties since 1986 and will begin operating in Alameda and Marin counties this year. SHELTER, Inc. offers affordable housing, rapid rehousing, prevention services, supportive housing, and navigation centers to help people transition to stable, self-sufficient lives. Populations served include veterans, domestic violence survivors, the justice-involved, and those experiencing chronic or situational homelessness.

In 2024 alone SHELTER, Inc. served 5,824 individuals, including 1,938 children. With 125 staff and over 600 volunteers, the organization is rooted in community and backed by a $25M annual budget. Its programs not only transform lives but also significantly reduce public costs—especially in healthcare—by helping people exit homelessness and avoid emergency services.

Headquartered in Concord, SHELTER, Inc. has earned recognition from major foundations for its impact and leadership. As housing costs soar across the Bay Area, SHELTER, Inc. remains committed to creating a more just and stable region, breaking the familial cycle of poverty and homelessness.

SHELTER Inc. has been a member of EBLC since 1990.

If you would like to learn more about SHELTER Inc...

Check out their website: https://shelterinc.org/
Follow them on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shelterinc/

05/08/2025

EBLC Member Spotlight: Miller Starr Regalia

Miller Starr Regalia was founded in 1964 and employs 75 people, including almost 50 attorneys, in their Walnut Creek, San Francisco, and Newport Beach offices. They are one of the largest real estate law practices in California, with experience in property related legal matters including transactions, acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, common interest development, construction, management, title, environmental, and land use. They also have full-service litigation and dispute resolution services.

Miller Starr Regalia has earned a reputation as a leading real estate law firm for more than fifty years. The firm has written a twelve-volume treatise on California real estate law called Miller & Starr, California Real Estate 4th. Also referred to as THE BOOK, it is the most widely used and judicially recognized real estate treatise in California and is cited by practicing attorneys and courts throughout the state.

Their attorneys and staff dedicate time specifically for pro bono work and volunteering with organizations such as KIND and Habitat for Humanity. They also hold internal fundraisers such as Food from the Bar and Ashbury House Back to School Drive.

Miller Starr Regalia has been a member of EBLC since 1987 and MSR Managing Shareholder, Ella Gower, currently serves on EBLC’s Board of Directors.

If you would like to learn more about Miller Starr Regalia…

Check out their website: msrlegal.com
Follow them on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/miller-starr-regalia

04/25/2025

EBLC Member Spotlight: Contra Costa Transportation Authority - CCTA

The Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) was established in 1988 to drive innovation and progress in regional mobility. CCTA is a public agency responsible for planning, funding, and managing transportation projects and programs in Contra Costa County. They oversee the implementation of Measure J, a half-cent sales tax dedicated to improving transportation infrastructure and services, including roads, public transit, and alternative modes of transportation. The agency also leads innovation in mobility through initiatives like GoMentum Station, one of the largest autonomous and connected vehicle testing facilities in the United States. CCTA’s mission is to enhance mobility, reduce congestion, and create sustainable transportation solutions – all critical for the region’s growth and sustainability.

Based in Walnut Creek and employing about two dozen people, CCTA has overseen numerous projects, such as the Caldecott Tunnel Fourth Bore, BART Extension to Antioch, I-680 Express Lanes and Balfour Road Interchange. They are updating the Countywide Transportation Plan, which guides strategies for a balanced, multimodal transportation system through 2050. Residents can help shape this vision by attending Community Outreach Events in 2025, completing online surveys, and staying informed through CCTA’s website.

CCTA has been a member of EBLC since 2013.

If you would like to learn more about the Contra Costa Transportation Authority…

Check out their website: ccta.net
Follow them on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/contra-costa-transportation-authority

04/21/2025

The Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau’s Leadership Contra Costa program is now recruiting for its 2025-26 cohort!

Leadership Contra Costa is a nine-month program that brings together community members to explore key regional issues and envision a better Contra Costa — and their role in shaping it. Programs like Leadership Contra Costa and our own Build the Bench candidate training program, which will begin this summer, are vital pipelines to engaging community members in public service.

If you, or someone you know, wants to get more involved with the community, Leadership Contra Costa is a great way to do it. Applications for the 2025-26 program are due June 30th.

Apply here: https://www.walnut-creek.com/leadership-contra-costa/

04/16/2025

EBLC Member Spotlight: First 5 Contra Costa

First 5 Contra Costa was founded in 1998 through California’s Proposition 10 and is dedicated to ensuring young children (prenatal through age 5) grow up healthy, ready to learn, and supported by safe, nurturing families and communities. With over $140 million invested from state to***co tax revenues, along with leveraged state, federal, and private funding, First 5 Contra Costa has been a transformative force in early childhood development for over two decades.

Research shows that 90% of brain development occurs by age three. Safe, nurturing relationships and environments during this critical period shape lifelong outcomes in health, learning, and well-being. First 5 Contra Costa maximizes this window of opportunity by focusing on: strengthening families, early childhood education, and early intervention.

First 5 Contra Costa has 27 full time employees and oversees hundreds of volunteers. They have opened five Family Resource Centers across the county, providing free services for families with young children. These centers connect families to vital resources and foster a sense of community. Volunteers and donors play a critical role in reaching these families.

First 5 Contra Costa has been a member of EBLC since 2008.

If you would like to learn more about First 5 Contra Costa…

Check out their website: first5coco.org

Follow them on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/first5coco

12/19/2024

If you are looking for ways to give back or get more involved with your community, joining a commission, board, or committee in your city or county is a great way to do so. These advisory groups play an integral role in guiding city councils and the board of supervisors on important policy decisions and ensuring community member voices are heard on those issues.

Many jurisdictions across the East Bay have vacancies they are looking to fill. Commissions, boards, and committees span a wide-range of issues including health and aging, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects, youth education, homelessness, arts and culture, parks and recreation, planning, transportation, workforce development, and more.

If your New Year’s resolution is to get involved and make a difference, now is the time to act. Fill out the form below, and the East Bay Leadership Council will help identify opportunities that align with your skills, interests, and passion for service.

Interest form: https://form.jotform.com/243527695815165

12/05/2024

The 2024 Threads of Hope Awards are fast approaching! Be sure to get your tickets now so you can be a part of celebrating a wonderful group of changemakers. You can learn more about them in Diablo Magazine’s most recent issue: https://www.diablomag.com/people-style/people/2024-threads-of-hope-honorees/article_2af3e24e-ab8c-11ef-ace3-b38c40f5093e.html

Register for Threads of Hope here: https://members.eastbayleadershipcouncil.com/events/details/2024-threads-of-hope-4184?calendarMonth=2024-12-01

11/27/2024

We hope everyone is taking the time to reflect and celebrate the things in their lives they are thankful for at this time of year. At the East Bay Leadership Council, we’re grateful for our team—an amazing group of problem-solvers who show how much we can achieve when we work together.

Case in point: We conquered an escape room challenge together!