Linda Schneider, M.A., started the charity when she did similar sustainability work in the high crime housing projects known as Coliseum and Lockwood Gardens in East Oakland in 1992-95. She resumed that greening process in 2009 as it unfolded into a larger, significant process throughout Contra Costa and Alameda Counties.
Eduardo Martinez assists with tree distributions, and with pick up and delivery of materials for sustainable projects in various environments. He is particularly interested in community building. He also sits on the Board of Directors.
Seth Wachtel, is the Director of the Architecture and Community Design Program in the Department of Art and Architecture and is Co-Director of the Garden Project Living-Learning Community at the University of San Francisco. He designs and helps coordinate the natural building structures. He also sits on the Board of Directors.
Andromeda Brooks runs the Happy Lot Farm & Garden in Richmond, sponsored by Self-Sustaining Communities.
Simone Dippon, predominantly works with the beehives and teaches beehive building and swarm catching workshops in the method of Emile Warre.
Tony Wolcott is the urban forester for the City of Albany, and helps coordinate and provide materials for various Self-Sustaining Communities' projects.
Aziz ur Rahman, webmaster
200+ community and volunteer members!
ADVISORS
Reece R. Halpern, Halpern Law Office, Albany, CA
Henry Sanguinetti, Growers’ Representative, Westland Fruit Tree Nursery, L.L.C., Lodi, CA
Novella Carpenter, author and farmer, Oakland, CA
Dylan Gano, Financial Services Officer, Mechanics Bank, San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito
Ron Egherman, Owner, Marvin Gardens Realty, former three-term chair of El Cerrito Environmental Quality Committee
Andrew Butt, architect, Interactive Resources, Richmond, CA; volunteering for various "good causes" including restoration of East Brother Light Station, and tutoring 6th graders at a local elementary school. He has also been an active promoter and organizer of the Point Richmond Free Summer Concert Series.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Linda Schneider, M.A.
Mark Scott, Manager, El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce, retired Fire Chief, City of El Cerrito
Lori Greenleaf, Ph.D., Psychotherapist, Public Broadcasting Producer (Healing from the Ground Up)
Tony Wolcott, Urban Forester, City of Albany
Seth Wachtel, USF Urban Design Professor
Andrew Dale, IT Security Specialist
Eduardo Martinez, retired school teacher, City Council candidate, Richmond Parks Commissioner