#SAMCEDAontheMove - October 2025

October’s gatherings united leaders from across sectors, sparking meaningful dialogue and driving action on the most pressing issues facing our communities.

Here are the highlights:

Check out #SAMCEDAonTheMove to see past events and activities. 

SAMCEDA's Conversation with the Congressman featuring Rep. Kevin Mullin

SAMCEDA held an in-person event with Rep. Kevin Mullin, where members received updates on current legislative issues and policy developments, then shared the opportunities and challenges facing their industries.

Joint Venture Silicon Valley’s 2025 Silicon Valley Poll

In partnership with The Mercury News and the Bay Area News Group, Joint Venture Silicon Valley (with its Silicon Valley Institute for Regional Studies) conducted the annual Silicon Valley Poll, a public opinion survey capturing residents’ views on key regional issues including: housing affordability, retirement security, and the impacts of recent federal policy shifts on the Bay Area.

The findings were unveiled at the 2025 Silicon Valley Poll event and later explored in depth with subject-matter experts during a discussion hosted at Applied Materials in Santa Clara.

County of San Mateo’s News Conference on Supporting Families

With the federal policy changes of H.R. 1, nearly 35,000 San Mateo County recipients of the CalFresh food assistance program could lose their benefits in November 2025. 

Leaders of San Mateo County called on the community to help residents in need by filling in the gaps by encouraging people to volunteer and/or make donations to Core Service Agencies and Second Harvest of Silicon Valley.

The San Francisco Peninsula’s Joint Board and Advisory Council Meeting

The San Francisco Peninsula convened a joint meeting of its Board of Directors and Advisory Council to review the current state of the industry at Filoli in Woodside. 

The group discussed key economic trends and consumer sentiment, supported by updates on airport activity, short-term rental performance, and hotel market data.

Rotary Club of San Mateo’s Meeting

SAMCEDA’s Consultant, Don Cecil, served as a speaker for the Rotary Club of San Mateo’s meeting at the Coyote Point Yacht Club in San Mateo.

He presented the history of transit in San Mateo County and the current challenges transit agencies are facing.

Cow Palace’s The Grand National Rodeo

For over seven decades, the Grand National Rodeo has been held at the Cow Palace in Daly City.

This year, the event continued its longstanding tradition of showcasing horsemanship and livestock handling through a range of rodeo competitions and performances.

NAMI | San Mateo County’s NAMIWalks 

Mental health advocates and supporters joined together to walk NAMI San Mateo County's annual NAMIWalks San Mateo County fundraiser at Seal Point Park in San Mateo.

The event was to help raise awareness, fight stigma, and fund free, life-changing mental health programs in San Mateo County.

Cañada College’s Menlo Park Site Open House

Cañada College invited community members to tour its latest site in Menlo Park. 

Designed to meet the growing need for affordable and hands-on training in high-demand fields, the Menlo Park campus offers short-term programs that equip students with job-ready skills and career pathways. 

Cañada College at Menlo Park continuing education programs include: Business Information Worker (BIW) Certificate Program, Generative AI Program, Dispensing Opticians Training Program, and Water Treatment and Distribution Program.



City of Daly City’s Top of the Hill Festival

The second annual Top of the Hill Festival filled the City of Daly City’s streets with live music, great food, and activities for all ages. 

Visitors browsed a wide range of food and small business vendors, connected with community organizations, and enjoyed everything from a classic car show to a kids zone and more.

Redwood City Library Foundation’s 4th Annual Upscale Pub Crawl Fundraiser

In recognition of Banned Books Week, an annual event celebrating the freedom to read, the Redwood City Library Foundation held its 4th Annual Upscale Pub Crawl in Redwood City.

The American Library Association (ALA) and the Banned Books Week Coalition announced that this year’s theme “Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights,” a nod to George Orwell’s 1984 and its warning about the dangers of censorship.

Participants began at the Downtown Library and then made their way to the local participating restaurants and pubs, where they enjoyed delicious libations. Each location prominently showcased a banned book and information about censorship, sparking conversation and awareness throughout the crawl.

Commission on the Status of Women’s CalSavers Event

Under California law, all employers with at least one employee must offer a retirement savings program or facilitate access to the CalSavers Retirement Savings Program. 

With the registration deadline set for Wednesday, December 31, 2025 (for employers not already offering a qualified retirement plan), the County of San Mateo’s Commission on the Status of Women partnered with CalSavers to host a workshop for small business owners at the Burlingame Community Center.

Attendees had the opportunity to engage with CalSavers representatives and ask questions about the program and their responsibilities.



Speaker Emerita Women's Power Luncheon and Issues Forum 2025

Civic, community, and business leaders gathered for Speaker Emerita Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s Women’s Power Luncheon and Issues Forum 2025, an event focused on timely legislative updates and priority policy issues at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco.

Genentech’s Futurelab 10th Anniversary Celebration

Since 2015, Genentech’s STEM education initiative, Futurelab, has developed programs to support South San Francisco Unified School District (SSFUSD) students with engaging and hands-on experiences to boost their skillsets and inspire a career in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

This year, Futurelab celebrated its 10th anniversary with an event attended by educators, local elected officials, and community leaders at Genentech in South San Francisco.





Groundbreaking Ceremony for 112 Vera Ave Affordable Housing

Integrated Community Development (ICD), Corporation for Better Housing, and its partners held a Groundbreaking Ceremony for their 112 Vera Avenue Affordable Housing Development project in Redwood City.

The 100% affordable housing development will deliver 178 homes, including 70 low-income units, 106 very low-income units, and 2 manager units to the heart of Redwood City’s highly walkable, transit-oriented downtown.


San Mateo County Office of Education’s Coalition for Safe Schools and Communities Annual Breakfast

Educators, community leaders, and elected officials gathered to attend the 2025 Coalition for Safe Schools and Communities Annual Leadership Breakfast at the San Mateo County Office of Education headquarters in Redwood City. 

The event reflected on the progress of the Coalition for Safe Schools and Communities on mental health, e-bikes and transportation safety, and domestic violence prevention.


Skyline College's Appreciation Reception

At the Skyline College Art Gallery in San Bruno, the President’s Council hosted an Appreciation Reception to honor the generous donors whose support makes the President’s Breakfast event possible.


Commission on the Status of Women’s Listen & Learn Event in Half Moon Bay

The County of San Mateo’s Commission on the Status of Women hosted its inaugural Listen & Learn event at the Half Moon Bay Library in Half Moon Bay.

As the first in a series scheduled throughout all San Mateo County districts, the event invites community members to share their insights on women’s economic stability and access to childcare.


South San Francisco Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Business Excellence Awards Gala

Businesses from across South City and beyond were honored at the South San Francisco Chamber of Commerce's Annual Business Excellence Awards Gala.

Held at the South San Francisco Conference Center in South San Francisco, guests enjoyed an evening filled with live entertainment, music, and dancing while celebrating local businesses.

Silicon Valley Community Foundation’sAnnual Meeting

Community leaders, philanthropists, and elected officials came together for the Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF)’s Annual Meeting at Cañada College in Redwood City. 

Attendees heard from leading voices in the philanthropic sector and learned about the launch of SVCF’s new Community Lifeline Fund, aimed at strengthening support for vulnerable communities across the region.

Leadership Council San Mateo County's Communicating with Impact

Leadership Council San Mateo County launched its new LEAD Local workshop series with a full-day program, Communicating with Impact, designed to strengthen local leaders’ communication skills and deepen collaboration across the region. 

The inaugural session brought together a diverse group of civic, nonprofit, and community leaders for hands-on training focused on strategic messaging, public engagement, and the power of effective storytelling.

Participants received practical guidance from seasoned public affairs professionals and local media experts, who shared best practices for navigating today’s communication landscape.


Port of Redwood City’s PortFest 2025

The Port of Redwood City held PortFest, its annual waterfront festival for the community in Redwood City. The family-friendly event brought live music, fun activities, food trucks, and more.

 

Check out #SAMCEDAonTheMove to see past events and activities.