Sometimes our most powerful stories are the ones we didn’t plan. After our January Learning Day focused on Human Services, participant Jen Bue, Senior Property Manager at CBRE, Inc., and member of the Emerging Leaders, Class of 2026, shared this heartfelt reflection on LinkedIn. With her permission, we’re sharing it here…in her own words.
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“We had another great day with Leadership Council San Mateo County exploring the critical landscape of Human Services in SMC. An inspiring way to kick off the year!

We met at the Half Moon Bay Library 🌊 (one of the greenest and coolest libraries in the nation), where City Manager Matthew Chidester reminded us why strong collaboration across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors is essential. When crisis hits, none of us act alone. True community resilience depends on all three working in sync.

From there, we heard from Director of the SMC Human Services Agency, Claire Cunningham, who walked us through an overview of the agency. Claire highlighted both the increasing complexity of service requirements and the decreasing levels of federal and state funding happening right now. It underscored just how critical County support has become in making sure these safety‑net programs remain strong for the residents who rely on them.

🌈 Highlight of the Day: Our visit to CoastPride was incredibly inspiring. Founded in 2019, their mission is to create a welcoming coastside community—from Pacifica to Pescadero—that celebrates and supports people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Today, they offer health and wellness services, support groups, community events, allyship training, and more. Below is a photo of the our Emerging Leaders field trip group with the CoastPride team in front of their cozy little cottage on Main Street. 🫶

I left the session reminded of how interconnected our roles truly are. Whether we work in property management, public service, nonprofit leadership, or beyond—we all play a part in strengthening the fabric of our community."

Leadership Council SMC Co-President Kaarin Hardy echoed this sentiment in her response to Jen’s post:

This was a powerful way to start the year: A full day of learning, honest conversation, and connection across sectors, capped by kicking off our Community Acceleration Projects with McKinsey & Company consultants. Moments like this remind me how much leadership is shaped by understanding the systems and communities we serve, and by learning alongside one another.

We are grateful to Jen for her permission to republish her post. 

Our Learning Days are rooted in knowledge, connection, and shared understanding, and they define the Leadership Council SMC Immersion Program experience. If you are interested in participating, we hope you will apply to the Emerging Leaders or Leadership CORPS Class of 2027. Applications open on Monday, March 2, 2026.