Meeting people can be easier when there's something to do together. This week, that might mean clearing a path at Crissy Field, writing postcards over dinner in Oakland or joining a bike ride through East San Jose. There are also gatherings for people working in sustainability, exploring a new field or looking for a place to volunteer.
Here are 18 ways to find your people around the Bay Area this week. Browse by region, pick something that interests you and check the registration details before heading out. Many events are free; some require advance approval. All times are Pacific.
San Francisco
Climate Week NYC livestream at 9Zero
Hosted by 9Zero San Francisco · Event details and registration
Monday, September 21 · 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. · Free; registration and approval required
9Zero Climate Innovation Hub, 350 California St., fourth floor
Watch Climate Week NYC sessions with other Bay Area climate professionals. The day's program covers flood-prone housing, energy and water risks, sustainable food businesses and climate leadership. Registration includes options for members and people attending their first three 9Zero events; get approval before heading over.
Resilient Together: FiDi Disaster Preparedness
Hosted by Yes SF · Event details and registration
Tuesday, September 22 · 1 p.m. · Free
Yes SF Headquarters, Financial District
A neighborhood disaster-preparedness session with the American Red Cross. If you live or work in the Financial District, this is an opportunity to learn about preparedness alongside others in the neighborhood. Register for venue details.
Pop Up Transit Art Fair
Hosted by the Transbay Joint Powers Authority with San Francisco Transit Riders · Event details and registration
Wednesday, September 23 · 3–6 p.m. · Free admission
Salesforce Transit Center
Browse work by local artists, pick up transit-themed merchandise and explore the projects changing how people get around the Bay Area. The fair brings together art and public transportation, with information on The Portal, Caltrain, BART and high-speed rail.
SFUSD Board of Education Candidate Forum
Hosted by the League of Women Voters of San Francisco · Event details and registration
Wednesday, September 23 · 6–7:30 p.m.; doors open at 5:30 p.m. · Free; registration required
Koret Auditorium, San Francisco Main Library, 100 Larkin St. · Online option available
Hear school board candidates answer questions about students, educators and San Francisco's public schools at this nonpartisan forum. You can submit a question when registering, and registrants receive the livestream link and recording. Spanish interpretation is available. In-person seating is first come, first served; campaign clothing, buttons and signs are not permitted.
Wealth and Taxes: How Do the Rich Avoid Paying Their Fair Share?
Hosted by Manny's · Event details and registration
Wednesday, September 23 · 6–7 p.m. · $18.54 in person; $9.27 online
Manny's, 3092 16th St.
A discussion of tax policy and the methods wealthy households use to reduce their tax bills. Attend at Manny's or choose the online ticket to watch from home.
Climate, Food & Ag Gathering
Hosted by Hannah Tikalsky and Ryan Anderson · Event details and registration
Thursday, September 24 · 5–7 p.m. · Free; registration and approval required
900 North Point St.
An evening of Northern California wine and conversation with people working across climate, food and agriculture. The informal gathering offers time to meet others in those fields, with views over the Bay.
Latinxs in Sustainability: Hispanic Heritage Month Gathering
Hosted by Latinxs in Sustainability · Event details and registration
Thursday, September 24 · 5–7:30 p.m. · Free admission
SPARK Social SF, 601 Mission Bay Blvd. North
Latinx professionals, students and allies are invited to meet people working in sustainability, climate, energy and the environment. Newcomers are welcome at this third Bay Area gathering. There is also an opportunity to suggest speakers and topics for a fall careers panel.
National Public Lands Day at Crissy Field
Hosted by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy · Event details and registration
Saturday, September 26 · 10 a.m.–1 p.m. · Volunteer event; registration required
Crissy Field East Beach
Help clear vegetation along pedestrian and bike routes while learning how the former airfield became a public park. No experience is needed, and tools and training are provided. Volunteers ages 10 and older are welcome; check the youth requirements when registering. Wear long pants and closed-toe shoes, and bring water and layers.
Peninsula and South Bay
Climate & Pizza: The Human Footprint of Energy Innovation
Hosted by American Conservation Coalition Bay Area · Event details and registration
Friday, September 25 · 6–8 p.m. · Free; RSVP required
The Treehouse, 459 Lagunita Dr., Stanford
A short talk and discussion about data centers, changes to the electric grid and their effects on communities, followed by time to meet students and professionals working in climate, technology and energy policy. Food is provided.
National Public Lands Day Volunteering in Alviso
Hosted by the San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society · Event details and registration
Saturday, September 26 · 9 a.m.–noon · Free; registration required
Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Environmental Education Center, 1751 Grand Blvd., Alviso
Spend the morning volunteering at the refuge's education center on the southern edge of the Bay. Follow the event link for registration and preparation details.
East San Jose Bike Party
Hosted by Acterra · Event calendar and registration
Sunday, September 27 · 2:30 p.m. · Free; registration required
Mayfair Community Center, East San Jose
Try a bike route developed by local community members and East Side Union High School students who have been studying the neighborhood's walking and biking infrastructure. The ride starts and finishes at Mayfair Community Center, with food and festivities. It's a chance to see the neighborhood by bike and meet people working to make it easier to get around.
East Bay
The Search for Answers Behind Rising Cancer Rates
Hosted by Big Brain Bay Area · Event details and registration
Tuesday, September 22 · 7–9 p.m. · $27
Donkey & Goat Winery, 1340 Fifth St., Berkeley
UCSF researchers Iona Cheng, Scarlett Lin Gomez and Salma Shariff-Marco discuss what population data can reveal about cancer patterns and health disparities. The conversation includes research into cancer causes in Asian American communities.
Transit Tales
Hosted by Local Economy with SPUR and Muni Diaries · Join the waitlist
Wednesday, September 23 · 6–7:30 p.m.; doors open at 5:30 p.m. · Free; waitlist open
Local Economy, 6028 College Ave., Oakland
An evening of true stories about public transportation, from unexpected encounters to memorable mishaps. SPUR, Muni Diaries and Local Economy bring riders together for short personal stories. The event is currently full; join the waitlist and wait for confirmation before attending.
Postcards + Polenta
Hosted by Krista Vanuska with Dayenu and the Environmental Voter Project · Event details and registration
Thursday, September 24 · 5:30–8:30 p.m. · Free; registration required
Grand Lake neighborhood, Oakland; address shared after registration
Share dinner and help write postcards encouraging environmental voters to participate in the midterm elections. The evening includes a discussion grounded in Jewish wisdom and a voter-participation activity. Arrive by 6 p.m. for dinner; writing begins at 6:30 p.m. Masks are encouraged, and a wheelchair-accessible path leads to the backyard; the house entrances have stairs.
Berkeley FireBreak: East Bay Wildfire Resilience
Hosted by Berkeley Gateway Accelerator and the Berkeley Institute for Security and Governance · Event details and registration
Thursday, September 24 · 6–8:30 p.m. · Free; registration and approval required
Downtown Berkeley; address shared after registration
Meet researchers, entrepreneurs and policy professionals working on wildfire resilience. This continuing series brings together the East Bay's academic and business communities to explore wildfire solutions and opportunities to collaborate. It is particularly relevant for people whose work or research touches fire risk, infrastructure or community preparedness.
North Bay
National Public Lands Day in Muir Woods
Hosted by the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy · Event details and registration
Saturday, September 26 · 8:30 a.m.–noon · Free; registration required
Muir Woods National Monument, 1 Muir Woods Road, Mill Valley
Help remove dirt and debris from the boardwalk to extend its life, then stay for a walk among the redwoods. Tools and training are provided, and volunteers ages 5 and older are welcome. Children ages 5–13 must attend with a parent or guardian.
Entrance and parking fees are waived for participants; register to receive a parking pass and arrival instructions. Wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. Download directions before leaving because cell service is unreliable.
Online
Out in AI: Create an AI Assistant with Ben Gibson
Hosted by Out in AI · Event details and registration
Tuesday, September 22 · 10–10:30 a.m. · Free; registration required
Watch Ben Gibson build an assistant for email and marketing, with the option to follow along. Out in AI brings together LGBTQ+ people and allies working with artificial intelligence, and this short session welcomes both technical participants and people who are simply curious.
Sustainable Homes Workshop
Hosted by Acterra · Event details and registration
Thursday, September 24 · 6–7 p.m. · Free; registration required
Hear Bay Area homeowners discuss heat pumps, induction cooking, solar power and other home upgrades alongside native gardens and rainwater catchment. The workshop also covers rebates and incentives, making it a useful starting point if you are considering changes and want to hear from people who have already made them.
Check registration before making plans. Prices, availability and event details can change, and an RSVP request does not guarantee admission to events requiring approval.
