The Sustainable San Mateo County celebrated and honored five residents for their transformative and innovative efforts to make their communities more sustainable at its 26th annual awards celebration.
At the celebration on Thursday, April 3, five local sustainability champions and two green buildings were recognized for their contributions to sustainability in San Mateo County.
The winners of the SSMC Sustainability Awards were: Caltrain, for its innovative electrification effort; The San Mateo County Council, for its work in fighting environmental injustices for Latino, immigrant and disadvantaged communities locally; and the San Mateo County Community College District, for its leadership in environmental efforts on three campuses and throughout the California Community College system.
The Youth Sustainability Award went to Colin Chu, an 11th-grade environmental advocate and founder of Homeless Heroes, while the Ruth Peterson Award, established in memory of a dedicated SSMC leader, went to long-time SSMC volunteer John Crowell for his significant contributions to SSMC as a volunteer and board member over the past four years.
In addition, the SSMC and the American Institute of Architects of San Mateo County presented the 2025 Green Building Award to the San Mateo County Office Building 3 in Redwood City.
An Honorable Mention for Green Building was also awarded to the Belle Haven Community Campus in Menlo Park, while Peninsula Clean Energy gave special recognition to the community leaders and local government officials and staff of San Mateo County for their collaborative efforts that have made the county a pioneer in the creation of climate-friendly building “scope codes” at the local and state levels.
The state of California is incorporating key elements of these local scope codes into its own building codes, with new regulations that will come into effect on January 1, 2026, and are estimated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 4 million metric tons annually.
For the last 26 years, the SSMC has recognized San Mateo County pioneers who have had a significant impact on the sustainability of the county. A total of 181 individuals and organizations have received awards for improving the sustainability of their communities by addressing environmental, economic, and/or social equity issues.
The award winners were recognized at a reception dinner, live auction and awards program full of inspiring stories about local sustainability heroes at the College of San Mateo.
The event was attended by State Senator Josh Becker, who served as master of ceremonies for the evening along with former Menlo Park Mayor Kirsten Keith, vice president of the SSMC.
Ana Ángel Avendaño, executive director of El Concilio of San Mateo County, told Peninsula 360 Press that, although the organization she leads has never worked intending to win an award, the recognition received for more than 45 years of work, especially aimed at supporting immigrants, is an incentive and a sign that what has been achieved has had a positive impact on the community.
“I feel very proud of the whole El Concilio team. We have been doing this work for more than 45 years... We don't do it for the awards, but receiving them is like giving us an incentive or like what we are doing is creating change. I feel like it gives us the support to move forward and that we are doing it right,” she said.
In addition to thanking all those who collaborate in the organization and recognizing this award is thanks to their work, she explained that El Concilio supports immigrants with various services, regardless of their immigration status, with the aim that they also form part of the solutions necessary to face environmental challenges that impact their community, such as pollution.
“The award we receive as El Concilio is for sustainability, and it is for the work we have done first of all with immigrants. Supporting them with services, but also so that they are part of local policies and solutions. Including them so that our local solutions are with their voices, such as climate change, and the policies that we see affecting us as immigrants and low-income families, with what is in the environment such as pollution”, she explained.
For Ana Ángel Avendaño, sustainability and environmental resilience includes everyone, as it affects everyone, which is why El Concilio seeks to support and give a voice to the immigrant community, with or without immigration documents, as the solutions also include them.
“When we talk about sustainability... It's about people, it doesn't matter your immigration status, your income. All of that impacts us when we look at the environment. It impacts our health, and it doesn't matter your status because we can also be part of the solutions; we can be part of local groups to make sure that we organize and learn how it's impacting, and also create solutions,” she explained to P360P.
The SSMC annual awards are designed to raise awareness of sustainability in the community and encourage others to take action.
“The Sustainability Awards put the spotlight on local people and organizations leading the way to a more sustainable future. By celebrating their achievements, we educate our community about what is possible and inspire others, leaders, businesses and residents alike, to take meaningful action for a healthier and more resilient San Mateo County,” said Sarah Hubbard, Executive Director of SSMC.
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