Hosted by Build It Green in partnership with Healthy Black Families, Inc.
Questions? Contact Mia Arter, our Network Stewardship Director, at [email protected]
Honoring Community, Envisioning Equity, Creating Our Future
Why Are We Convening?
Natural systems grow stronger through diversity and interconnection. Human systems – like the housing and community development system – grow similarly. Build It Green convenes welcoming spaces for this interconnection through the California Housing System Innovators Network.
The network will convene approximately 100 thought leaders and changemakers for three transformative days on June 2-4, 2025, in Berkeley, California. In partnership with Healthy Black Families, Inc. housing and community development leaders will be invited to step out of daily patterns and into a deeper exploration of our collective potential.
The Innovators Network brings together builders, community organizers, policymakers, and other thought leaders to honestly examine our past and collectively envision our future. As one past participant noted: At the 2023 Gathering, “I met others who recognize that our housing delivery framework (or wheel) is broken. We agreed that the work is to rebuild the frame, not the individual spokes.”
An Invitation to South Berkeley
Where will we ground together?
The Gathering isn’t a traditional conference – it’s an organic, living experience designed to nurture cross-pollination between diverse elements of California’s housing ecosystem. It is an opportunity to engage in dialogue, learn and plan together, rather than a collection of presentations.
For this year’s Gathering we’re grounding our work deeply in place. We have been graciously invited by Healthy Black Families, Inc. and South Berkeley leaders into their community home. South Berkeley is a community with a powerful history of both resilience and displacement. Through storytelling, reflection, and “deep dive” community visits, participants will hear the story of how development has shaped the lives of residents, grounding the rest of our conversations about how development could strengthen the fabric of community life
Our Gift to You
How will I grow from this?
Our aim in hosting the 2025 Gathering is that all participants will:
We hope to build on the success of the past two Gatherings hosted by the network: 94%+ of past participants found the experience transformative.
Important Details
What do I need to know?
Who Should Attend
Is this right for me?
This Gathering calls to those ready to:
Like a healthy ecosystem, our network grows stronger through thoughtful cultivation of relationships. While we encourage sharing within your immediate team, please help us maintain the gathering’s intimate nature by keeping invitations within your organization. We welcome suggestions for potential participants who could add new dimensions to our collective evolution.
California Housing System Innovators Network
2025 Gathering
June 2-4, 2025 in Berkeley, California
Alex Coba
Communication Associate
As a proud California native from Stockton, Alex brings a wealth of experience and a versatile skill set. He has a solid communication background with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Public Relations from California State University, Chico. Alex is adept at strategic communications and media relations, with experience gathering and sharing stories from his local communities that uplift the unique spirit and values of those places. He is excited to join Build It Green, where he can apply his talents to further BIG’s mission to help communities across California thrive
