This July, we are fortunate to be able to celebrate two volunteers. Both new to volunteering for Greenbelt Alliance, Catherine Torres and Ben Dines helped at our Grow Smart Bay Area panel discussion in San Jose.
A student of land use planning, Ben was once an intern at Sacramento Area Council of Governments where he developed a deep appreciation for regional growth strategies. He also held an internship as a planner with the City of Fremont where he learned about the crucial role of parking for any new development project.
Catherine is a San Jose resident who is committed to making her community a better place to live. “I learned so much at the event. I was motivated to educate others about the topics that were discussed such as the Smart Growth vision.”
Their efforts before, during, and after the event ensured that the evening ran smoothly and that the guests felt welcome. We are happy to say that both Catherine and Ben learned something new about how a 
regional plan for growing smarter can help maintain the the character of their own city, San Jose, and help keep their friends and neighbors healthy.
Thank you so much for you help, Catherine and Ben. We all look forward to working with you again soon.
