A Homecoming of Purpose: Reflections from the Bay Area
Photo from left to right: EJ Fellows Vivian Breckenridge, Just Homes; Vivian Huang and Christine Cordero, APEN; and Darryl Molina Sarmiento, CBE; with Sogorea Te’ Land Trust Speakers Corrina Gould, Cheyenne Zepada, and Deja Gould at the Berkeley, CA Land Trust Site Community Opening
From October 22 to 26, 2024, the second EJ Disrupt Design Fellowship cohort gathered in my home city of the Bay Area on the unceded lands of the Ohlone people.
As a local of Oakland and Richmond and the Operations and Events Manager at the Tishman Environment and Design Center, welcoming EJ fellows and community leaders across Turtle Island, Hawai'i, and Puerto Rico was deeply personal. This retreat wasn't just about convening—it was about honoring our communities' resilience, complexity, and power.
Growing up here, I've seen both sides of the Bay. I cherish the family picnics at Miller/Knox Park and the energy of 510 Day at Lake Merritt, where Black, brown, and working-class voices rise above gentrification. Yet, I've also witnessed displacement, skyrocketing rents, and the harsh realities faced by our unhoused neighbors. Despite it all, this is my home. Sharing it with our EJ fellows reaffirmed that community-building is our way forward.
This retreat wouldn't have been possible without the deep partnership of our EJ Fellows and Host Committee Chairs from Communities for a Better Environment (CBE), Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN), and Just Homes. Together, we designed a space that reflected the Bay's layered history and the ongoing fight for justice, grounding us in this region's challenges and beauty.
This retreat was even more meaningful because I co-designed it with my sister, Tarin Griggs, who is truly one of the most talented, organized, and inspiring people I know. With a decade of project management experience, an M.Ed. in Arts in Education from Harvard, and a B.A. from Mills College, she brings brilliance and heart to everything she touches. Watching her manage logistics and staffing and anticipate every need made me so proud—not just as her collaborator but also as her sister. I've always admired her; this project reaffirmed why she's my favorite person.
Planning this retreat during an election year was no easy task. It required deep coordination and an intentional focus on joy, care, and ease. Working closely with our community partners—those on the frontlines of environmental justice—helped us center compassion in our process. Their stories reminded us of the urgent need for environmental justice. From land preservation efforts to youth-led climate resilience projects and monumental wins for clean air and community health, each conversation underscored the critical work happening here.
The Bay Area's very own DJ ShellHeart, elevated the retreat's energy. The music brought us together in celebration and kept the spirit of the gathering vibrant. We also celebrated with a moving performance by Desirae Harp of the Onacáṭis (Mishewal Wappo) Tribal Nation. Her music, including her new video, Native Women with Lyla June, reminded us of the power of ancestral connections.
This retreat reminded us of our profound collective strength and the power of community-driven solutions. As we move forward, I invite you to read our upcoming Gratitude Report, in which we share more about the impact of this incredible gathering.
In community and solidarity,
Taylor Griggs
Bay Area Resident & Operations and Events Manager, Tishman Center