2026 CivicWell Policymakers Conference

From Recovery to Resilience

At the 34th Annual CivicWell Policymakers Conference, we’ll explore innovative solutions in communities emerging from converging challenges—wildfire recovery, housing crises, energy affordability, economic uncertainty, and more. This year’s program will highlight equitable climate investments, neighborhood-scale transformations, and the economic strategies to build climate resilience, social cohesion, and economic prosperity in California communities.

Registration is now closed. We hope to see you at next year’s conference!

This conference is for elected officials only. If you are not an elected official but would like to attend, we invite you to explore our sponsorship opportunities below.

Become a CivicWell Member 

CivicWell members receive $100 off the conference registration rate — consider joining our membership network today! CivicWell members receive event discounts, webinars with case studies on climate resilience and capacity-building projects, resources, legislative updates, and more.

If you are a current member, you will receive a discount code via email.

Registration Rates

***

Cancellation Policy

Registrations may be canceled up until February 24, 2026. The cancellation fee is $125.

After February 24, 2026 no refunds will be offered. In lieu of cancellation, registration may be transferred to another elected official at any time before March 4, 2026 free of charge by contacting hkillion@civicwell.org. 

The conference will take place from Thursday evening, March 12th to Saturday evening, March 14th. All conference sessions will be held in the Yosemite Valley Lodge.

The below agenda is tentative and subject to change at any time. Speakers will be added as they are confirmed.

Thursday, March 12

6:00 – 7:30 pm  Registration

6:30 – 7:30 pm  Welcome Reception

7:30 – 9:00 pm Opening Keynote

• California State Senator Catherine Blakespear

Friday, March 13

8:30 – 9:30 am Breakfast (provided)

9:30 am – 11:00 am Transportation Equity at a Crossroads: Statewide Leadership in a Changing Landscape

• Tanisha Taylor, Executive Director, California Transportation Commission
• Kendra Ramsey, Executive Director, Cal Bike
• Allison Joe, Deputy Secretary for Equity and Workforce, California State Transportation Agency
• Kiara Reed, Executive Director, Civic Thread

11:00 – 11:15 am  Coffee Break

11:15 – 12:30 pm Creative Funding Solutions

• Angie Hacker, Senior Policy & Practices Consultant for CivicWell and CEO and Principal Consultant, Prosper Sustainably
• Kirin Kumar, Director for Climate and Disaster Resilience, Northern California Grantmakers
• Adam Parris, Senior Director, ICF

12:30 – 1:30 pm  Boxed Lunch (provided)/ Networking

1:30 – 7:15 pm  Break/Participants free for dinner on their own

7:15 – 7:30 pm Remarks from SMUD Board President

• Dave Tamayo

7:30 – 9:00 pm Wildfire Resilience and Rebuilding Strategies for California

• Steve Frisch, President, Sierra Business Council
• Courtney Henderson, Councilmember, Town of Truckee

Saturday, March 14

8:00 – 9:00 am  Breakfast (provided)

9:00 – 10:15 am Workforce and Economic Development

• Jaron Brandon, Supervisor, Tuolumne County
• Sherri Reusche, Director, Rural Utilization Business Center Director
• Shanette Anderson, Deputy Director of Contractor Development, Emerald Cities Collaborative
• Julie Levin, Executive Director, Bioenergy Association of California (invited)

10:15 – 10:30 am Coffee Break

10:30 – 10:45 am Energizer & Inspirational Moment

• Carl Guardino, Global Government Affairs & Policy Executive, Tarana Wireless

11:00 am – 12:15 pm Transformative Neighborhood-scale Energy Solutions

• Dawn Weisz, CEO, Marin Clean Energy
• Christy Zamani, Executive Director, Day One
• Rich Brown, Academic Researcher, California Institute for Energy and Environment
• Mindy Craig, Principal and Owner, BluePoint Planning
• Laurel Rothschild, Vice President of Energy Programs, The Energy Coalition

12:15 – 5:30 pm  Conference Break (lunch on own)

5:30 – 7:00 pm  Dinner (provided)

7:00 – 8:30 pm Building the Bond Between Housing and Climate Resilience

• California State Senator Ben Allen
• Gustavo Velasquez, Director, California Department of Housing & Community Development

Learn More About the Speakers Here

LODGING UPDATE

Lodging availability is regularly changing in Yosemite National Park — we recommend you check back if you don’t see availability, because more rooms may become available.

An alternative is to book lodging at Yosemite View Lodge, outside the park. It is approximately a 30 minute drive from this hotel to the conference location. Your Yosemite entrance pass is good for one week.

We are continually working with the Lodge to try to secure more rooms for the conference.

•••

The 2026 CivicWell Policymakers Conference will be held at the Yosemite Valley Lodge in Yosemite National Park.

Our room block is sold out. A limited number of rooms are available at a discounted rate using our group code 1647OD at the Yosemite Valley Lodge. Our group rate for the Yosemite Valley Lodge is $313 a night. Book soon, as these will sell out! 

If you would like to reserve a room, visit travelyosemite.com or contact the hotel’s reservations office at 888-413-8869 option 1. You can find detailed instructions here.

The CivicWell Policymakers Conference is an excellent opportunity for sponsors to build meaningful relationships with local policymakers, highlight and deepen your commitment to sustainable communities, and raise your profile with community resilience leaders.

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, view the Sponsorship Brochure and contact info@civicwell.org for information.

Download the Sponsorship Brochure

For questions about registration and logistics, please contact:
Heather Killion
(916) 448-1198  x303
hkillion@civicwell.org

From Recovery to Resilience

At the 34th Annual CivicWell Policymakers Conference, we’ll explore innovative solutions in communities emerging from converging challenges—wildfire recovery, housing crises, energy affordability, economic uncertainty, and more. This year’s program will highlight equitable climate investments, neighborhood-scale transformations, and the economic strategies to build climate resilience, social cohesion, and economic prosperity in California communities.

Registration is Now Open!

This conference is for elected officials only. If you are not an elected official but would like to attend, we invite you to explore our sponsorship opportunities below.

Cancellation Policy

Registrations may be canceled up until February 24, 2026. The cancellation fee is $125.

After February 24, 2026 no refunds will be offered. In lieu of cancellation, registration may be transferred to another elected official at any time before March 4, 2026 free of charge by contacting hkillion@civicwell.org. 

The conference will take place from Thursday evening, March 12th to Saturday evening, March 14th. All conference sessions will be held in the Yosemite Valley Lodge.

The below agenda is tentative and subject to change at any time. Speakers will be added as they are confirmed.

Thursday, March 12

6:00 – 7:30 pm  Registration

6:30 – 7:30 pm  Welcome Reception

7:30 – 9:00 pm Opening Keynote

• California State Senator Catherine Blakespear

Friday, March 13

8:30 – 9:30 am Breakfast (provided)

9:30 am – 11:00 am Transportation Equity at a Crossroads: Statewide Leadership in a Changing Landscape

• Tanisha Taylor, Executive Director, California Transportation Commission
• Kendra Ramsey, Executive Director, Cal Bike
• Allison Joe, Deputy Secretary for Equity and Workforce, California State Transportation Agency
• Kiara Reed, Executive Director, Civic Thread

11:00 – 11:15 am  Coffee Break

11:15 – 12:30 pm Creative Funding Solutions

• Angie Hacker, Senior Policy & Practices Consultant for CivicWell and CEO and Principal Consultant, Prosper Sustainably
• Kirin Kumar, Director for Climate and Disaster Resilience, Northern California Grantmakers
• Adam Parris, Senior Director, ICF

12:30 – 1:30 pm  Boxed Lunch (provided)/ Networking

1:30 – 7:15 pm  Break/Participants free for dinner on their own

7:15 – 7:30 pm Remarks from SMUD Board President

• Dave Tamayo

7:30 – 9:00 pm Wildfire Resilience and Rebuilding Strategies for California

• Steve Frisch, President, Sierra Business Council
• Courtney Henderson, Councilmember, Town of Truckee

Saturday, March 14

8:00 – 9:00 am  Breakfast (provided)

9:00 – 10:15 am Workforce and Economic Development

• Jaron Brandon, Supervisor, Tuolumne County
• Sherri Reusche, Director, Rural Utilization Business Center Director
• Shanette Anderson, Deputy Director of Contractor Development, Emerald Cities Collaborative
• Julie Levin, Executive Director, Bioenergy Association of California (invited)

10:15 – 10:30 am Coffee Break

10:30 – 10:45 am Energizer & Inspirational Moment

• Carl Guardino, Global Government Affairs & Policy Executive, Tarana Wireless

11:00 am – 12:15 pm Transformative Neighborhood-scale Energy Solutions

• Dawn Weisz, CEO, Marin Clean Energy
• Christy Zamani, Executive Director, Day One
• Rich Brown, Academic Researcher, California Institute for Energy and Environment
• Mindy Craig, Principal and Owner, BluePoint Planning
• Laurel Rothschild, Vice President of Energy Programs, The Energy Coalition

12:15 – 5:30 pm  Conference Break (lunch on own)

5:30 – 7:00 pm  Dinner (provided)

7:00 – 8:30 pm Building the Bond Between Housing and Climate Resilience

• California State Senator Ben Allen
• Gustavo Velasquez, Director, California Department of Housing & Community Development

Learn More About the Speakers Here

LODGING UPDATE

Lodging availability is regularly changing in Yosemite National Park — we recommend you check back if you don’t see availability, because more rooms may become available.

An alternative is to book lodging at Yosemite View Lodge, outside the park. It is approximately a 30 minute drive from this hotel to the conference location. Your Yosemite entrance pass is good for one week.

We are continually working with the Lodge to try to secure more rooms for the conference.

•••

The 2026 CivicWell Policymakers Conference will be held at the Yosemite Valley Lodge in Yosemite National Park.

Our room block is sold out. A limited number of rooms are available at a discounted rate using our group code 1647OD at the Yosemite Valley Lodge. Our group rate for the Yosemite Valley Lodge is $313 a night. Book soon, as these will sell out! 

If you would like to reserve a room, visit travelyosemite.com or contact the hotel’s reservations office at 888-413-8869 option 1. You can find detailed instructions here.

The CivicWell Policymakers Conference is an excellent opportunity for sponsors to build meaningful relationships with local policymakers, highlight and deepen your commitment to sustainable communities, and raise your profile with community resilience leaders.

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, view the Sponsorship Brochure and contact info@civicwell.org for information.

Download the Sponsorship Brochure

For questions about registration and logistics, please contact:
Heather Killion
(916) 448-1198  x303
hkillion@civicwell.org