We believe education empowers people to take an active role in creating a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous region.

Most SPUR programs are free to attend. To view recordings and slide decks from previous events, visit the “Past Events” link below. For more information, see our Events FAQ page.

Location
Audience
Event Format
Policy Area
Date Range

September 2025

Images of apartment buildings around Outer Mission, San Francisco
Sep
18
Thu
Online Digital Discourse / to

Addressing America’s Housing Crisis: A Conversation with Bruce Katz

Join us for a conversation between SPUR's Chief Policy Officer, Sujata Srivastava, and Bruce Katz, co-founder and inaugural director of the Nowak Metro Finance Lab, in which they will discuss the implications and impacts to federal housing funding and policy under Trump 2.0, how states and localities should respond and Bruce's work with the National Housing Crisis Task Force, where he serves as a senior staff member and advisor.
Oakland Creatives
Sep
24
Wed
Oakland In-Person Forum / to

The Future of California’s Creative Economy: Insights from the Creative Economy Workgroup

Learn how California’s creative culture is changing—shaped by the cost of living, access to funding, technology, climate change, and the resilience of our communities and culture. The California Arts Council, in partnership with state agencies, has developed a strategic framework to strengthen California’s $2.9 billion creative sector. This panel brings together statewide leaders who shaped the plan to share key findings and discuss innovative policies—from workforce development to cultural districts and artist housing—that can expand opportunities for creative workers and position California as a global leader in arts and culture.
VTA bike ride
Sep
30
Tue
San José Tour / to

Guided Bike Tour of San Jose's Central Bikeway

Join VTA for a guided ride along the future Central Bikeway in San Jose — the county’s first on-street bike highway. Starting at the Santa Clara Caltrain Station, the 6-mile roundtrip will showcase planned features like protected bike lanes, safer intersections, and connections to Caltrain and BART. The project, shaped through community input, aims to make biking a safe, low-stress, and practical option for commuting, errands, and recreation while promoting healthier, more connected communities. This 6-mile roundtrip ride is mostly flat but includes some riding along busier streets, so it may not be entirely beginner friendly. Bring your bike, helmet, water, and enthusiasm!

October 2025

sj event
Oct
2
Thu
SPUR Member Event San José In-Person Forum / to

Meet & Greet with Councilmember Anthony Tordillos

Join the San Jos é Chamber of Commerce and SPUR for a lunchtime meet-and-greet with San José ' s newest Councilmember, Anthony Tordillos, at the San Jose Chamber office in downtown San José. Joining as moderator will be Silicon Valley Business Journal Editor-in-Chief Gary Boulanger. This “brown bag” event is a chance to bring your lunch, connect with fellow community members, and hear directly from Councilmember Tordillos about his goals for downtown San José. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions and share your thoughts.
AI and Cities
Oct
7
Tue
Online Digital Discourse / to

AI and Tech for Cities: Housing Permits & Planning - Case Studies from Emulate Cities and Infilla

Cities across the country are facing multiple planning challenges: housing demand, complex zoning, environmental constraints, seasonal construction windows, and limited staff capacity. These pressures slow permitting, frustrate applicants, and pull planners away from the work they came to do -- building great communities. This session will present case studies from two startup companies that are collaborating with city planners, land use attorneys, developers, and architects to improve permitting outcomes. Join us to learn about strategies used to streamline workflows, increase transparency, and support timely housing delivery.
Oakland Streets
Oct
21
Tue
Oakland In-Person Forum / to

A Conversation with Oakland’s Director of Transportation: Building Safer Streets

Join SPUR’s Transportation Policy Director, Laura Tolkoff, in conversation with Oakland's Director of Transportation, Josh Rowan, about building safer streets across the city. Come hear how his team is advancing this vision, what progress has been made so far, and what’s next in their efforts to create a safer, more accessible transportation network for all Oaklanders.
Market Street
Oct
22
Wed
San Francisco Special Program / to

Market Street Reimagined: ULI Award-Winning Visions

This summer, Urban Land Institute (ULI) San Francisco invited designers, planners, and community members to reimagine Market Street—San Francisco’s most iconic civic boulevard—as a place that better serves everyone who lives, works, and visits the city. Six winning visions were selected as part of the Market Street Reimagined program. Join us at SPUR as we welcome the six winners to present their ideas. Each team will share a 5-minute presentation of their vision board, followed by time for conversation and discussion with the audience.
San Francisco
Oct
30
Thu
San Francisco In-Person Forum / to

Federal Funding Impacts for Sustainability & Resilience

As federal support for climate action and resilience recedes, state and local governments must step up. This program will explore how SPUR and partners are responding, the policies and coalitions emerging, and how we can all help advance climate action, resilience, and equity.

November 2025

Silver SPUR Awards - Thursday, November 13, 2025
Nov
13
Thu
San Francisco Silver SPUR Awards / to

2025 Silver SPUR Awards

Join SPUR for an evening of celebration, inspiration, and networking. Save the date — The Silver SPUR Awards are back on Thursday, November 13th!

Auxiliary Services

If, in order to participate in a SPUR event, you need auxiliary aids or services for a disability (e.g., qualified interpreter, qualified reader, written materials, taped texts) please submit your request five business days before the event to [email protected] or 415-781-8726 x132. SPUR will work with you in identifying effective auxiliary aids or services that it can provide. If you need to cancel your request, please notify SPUR at least two business days before the event.