Dear District 4 Neighbors,

As we welcome a new year, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to continue serving the residents of District 4. January offers us a moment to pause, reflect, and recommit ourselves to the work of building stronger, healthier, and more resilient communities across San Mateo County.

This month, we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose vision of justice, equity, and collective responsibility continues to guide our path forward. Whether we are addressing housing needs, strengthening public safety, expanding economic opportunity, protecting our environment, or just trying to survive, progress requires persistence and we are up to the task.

As we move into 2026, I want to encourage each of you: don’t give up hope. Change takes time, but it also takes people who are willing to stay engaged. Keep showing up. Keep speaking up. And keep the faith. Your voice, your advocacy, and your presence matter more than you know.

District 4 is home to some of the most vibrant, diverse, and community driven neighborhoods in the county. In the months ahead, I look forward to advancing initiatives that reflect your priorities, elevate your voices, and ensure that every resident has the opportunity to thrive. Together, we will continue to champion policies rooted in equity, collaboration, and meaningful impact.

Thank you for your partnership, your advocacy, and your commitment to our shared future. I’m excited for all we will accomplish in 2026.

Warmly,

Supervisor Lisa Gauthier

San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, District 4

COMMUNITY IN ACTION: HEALTH, DIGNITY, & COMMUNITY CARE

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I joined community members in East Palo Alto to turn reflection into action. Together, we planted trees, revitalized Martin Luther King Jr. Park, and honored Dr. Clarence B. Jones, rooting Dr. King’s legacy in care for our people and our places. As Kidango prepares to open its new East Palo Alto early childhood education campus later this year, this day was a reminder that service is how we build the future together: one act, one partnership, one community at a time.

My team and I joined over 350 trained volunteers for the 2026 One Day Count, walking and driving assigned areas across San Mateo County to help document the number of people experiencing homelessness. By stepping into this work, we helped gather data in East Palo Alto that is crucial for planning solutions and ensuring people experiencing homelessness are counted, seen, and supported.

In collaboration with Omatochi, Urban League of Greater San Francisco Bay Area, and my office, we hosted the Aging Well Expo at the Belle Haven Community Center, bringing together seniors and caregivers for a day focused on health, dignity, and connection. The event provided access to vital health screenings, CalAIM information, and trusted community resources, while creating space for meaningful conversations about aging with support and independence. It was powerful to see over 60 seniors and caregivers connect directly with services designed to help them thrive, reinforcing our shared commitment to caring for our community across every stage of life.

At our last Board meeting in January, our office partnered with the Stanford Blood Center to host a community blood drive in recognition of Blood Donation Month, and the response was incredible. Together, we collected 45 red cell products, with the potential to support up to 135 patients, including 38 first-time donors stepping up to give. Thank you to everyone who donated. Your generosity made a real and lasting difference. One powerful reminder shared by Clayton Toller stayed with me: “We want the blood waiting for the patient, not the patient waiting for the blood.” If you weren’t able to donate, we encourage you to learn more about how to continue supporting blood centers across our community and help ensure this lifesaving resource is always available.

I was privileged to attend the Renaissance Center's Business of Childcare graduation, a program that serves aspiring and established owners of in-home child care businesses. This is a dual path course, where child care entrepreneurs, often single-income head of households, learn best practices in establishing their own business while also working with WANDA Silicon Valley, a Silicon Valley financial literacy nonprofit. Graduates earn a grant that can be used for their small businesses, and can work towards additional resources that can be used to enhance their new small businesses. I was excited to see my neighbor Carmen graduate as well! 

As we move through respiratory virus season, we’re keeping a close eye on how illnesses are showing up in our community. Overall, flu activity has remained fairly steady, though influenza B has been on the rise, even as flu-related emergency department visits have dipped slightly. There’s some reassuring news as well: COVID-19 and RSV continue to trend downward and remain below levels seen in recent seasons, despite a gradual increase in RSV wastewater levels.

To learn more, the full reports and additional information about vaccination are available here.

COMMUNITY VOICES AND LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS DRIVING CHANGE

I was lucky to open the San Mateo County Youth Climate Ambassadors (YCA) Mid-Year Retreat at the Belle Haven Community Campus. YCA is a partnership between the County of San Mateo's Office of Sustainability, Peninsula Clean Energy, the Citizens' Environmental Council and the San Mateo County Office of Education. Over 50 teenagers gathered in Belle Haven to present their projects on local climate policy. It was inspiring to see tomorrow's climate champions leading today! 

I joined The Bay Area Community Health Advisory Council Black Youth Advisory Board (BYAB) for a Youth Leadership meeting that centered the voices of Black youth who are demanding to be seen, heard, and valued. Young leaders spoke candidly about the need for visibility, real decision-making power, and pathways that affirm their brilliance. As we reflect on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., their leadership is a reminder that the work of justice lives on through youth who are organizing, dreaming, and pushing us to do better.

My office in collaboration with the Office of Arts and Culture, hosted two arts listening sessions in North Fair Oaks to hear directly from community members about how they want to shape a dedicated arts space within the Economic and Employment Center. Community members, especially young people, shared creative ideas grounded in lived experience. Their voices will directly inform the creation of an arts-centered space that is welcoming, accessible, and built by and for the community.

BUILDING BRIDGES ACROSS BOARDS AND REGIONS

CELEBRATING NEW LEADERSHIP

We’re excited to congratulate Board of Supervisor President Noelia Corzo as she begins her term leading the Board. This new chapter brings forward experienced, mission-driven leaders ready to move our work ahead. 

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

February marks Black History Month, and communities across the district are coming together to recognize Black history and heritage. Below are upcoming events our office is participating in throughout the month:

• February 1 – Hold Out for Joy Concert

3 PM | Eastside College Preparatory School, East Palo Alto

A live concert celebrating works by African American composers.

• February 3 – Congolese Dancing

5–6 PM | Belle Haven Community Campus, Menlo Park

A cultural dance event highlighting Congolese music and movement.

• February 4 – Rosa Parks & Transit Equity Day

11 AM–6 PM | Domini Hoskins Black History Museum & Learning Center, Redwood City

A day honoring Rosa Parks’ legacy and advancing conversations on transit equity.

• February 5 – Black Voices from the Ivory Tower (Virtual Screening)

1–2 PM (EST) | Virtual

A virtual screening of Black Voices from the Ivory Tower by Khalid White, followed by a live Q&A with the director exploring the experiences of Black scholar-practitioners in higher education.

• February 6 – Maya Angelou Exhibit

10 AM–4 PM | San Mateo County History Museum, Redwood City

An exhibit celebrating the life, words, and legacy of Maya Angelou.

• February 7 – Off to a Good Start Wellness Event

8 AM–1 PM | 1900 University Circle, 3rd Floor, East Palo Alto

A free wellness event led by Coach Anita Black-Cowan focused on mental, physical, and spiritual well-being, with information on precision medicine, advocacy, and AI in health outcomes.

• February 7 – Black Liberation Celebration

1–4 PM | Belle Haven Community Campus, Menlo Park

A community celebration honoring Black history, culture, and liberation.

• February 18 – East Palo Alto Memory Box

3:30–5 PM | East Palo Alto Library

An interactive storytelling activity centered on community memory and history.

• February 21 – African American Community Initiative

12–3 PM | Domini Hoskins Black History Museum & Learning Center, Redwood City

A gathering focused on African American history, culture, and community empowerment.

• Black Excellence: The Future in Motion

February 27 from 5–9 PM | Bloomhouse, East Palo Alto

February 28 from 1–5 PM | 545 Hamilton Ave, Menlo Park

A two-part celebration highlighting Black excellence, creativity, and future-focused leadership.

Community members are invited to upcoming events focused on civic engagement, youth leadership, and community input:

• January 31 – Civic Café

11 AM–2:30 PM | Redwood City

A youth civic engagement event offering tools, networking, and inspiration from local leaders.

• January 31 – Nairobi Renaissance Community Education Program

1–3 PM | Virtual via Zoom

A culturally restorative community education session for youth (ages 5–19) and adults featuring group dialogue, age-based breakouts, art activities, and raffles.

• Stanford Medicine Cancer Center Community Open Houses
• February 5^th from 5:30–7:30 PM | Cardinal Hall, Stanford University, 505 Broadway, Redwood City

Drop-in open house to learn about the Stanford Medicine Cancer Center: Redwood City Project

• February 7 from 10 AM–1 PM | Fair Oaks Community Center, 2600 Middlefield Rd., Room 2, Redwood City

Drop-in open house to learn about the project and share feedback. Light refreshments, quiet activities for children, and Spanish translation available.

COMMUNITY FLYERS

If you want to get more insight into what my staff and I are working on, please connect with us on social media. It’s also a great way to interact with our office and to get notifications for upcoming events. Click the icons and like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram. 

Supervisor Lisa Gauthier

San Mateo County, District 4