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Community

SFPUC’s Community Benefits Team Celebrates 15 Years of Putting People First

The SFPUC's Community Benefits team.
  • Alexandra Johnson

Fifteen years adds up to real impact – and that's worth celebrating! From environmental education and public art to outreach services, environmental justice, and land revitalization, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission's (SFPUC) Community Benefits team has spearheaded thousands of programs, countless community connections, and many meaningful conversations. What began as a bold vision has grown into a results-driven effort that strengthens neighborhoods in San Francisco and beyond, while advancing equity, justice, and sustainability. 

Students at the College Hill Learning Garden.

“At the SFPUC, we turn our commitment to the community into action. I’m incredibly proud of what our team has accomplished in launching innovative initiatives and leading collaborations with our partners. I am inspired to see what the next 15 years bring,” said Ronnie Versher Jr., Director of Community Benefits.

Building upon the 2009 Environmental Justice Policy, the SFPUC Commission adopted in 2011 the Community Benefits Policy, creating a framework for how the agency would engage with communities beyond basic service delivery. It outlined a goal of integrating community interests into decision-making, fostering partnerships, and designing initiatives that go beyond water, power, and sewer services to promote environmental, economic, and social benefits throughout SFPUC's service area.

Over the past 15 years, the Community Benefits division has developed and implemented a wide range of programs that delivers on that promise. Here’s a snapshot of the team’s work from this past year alone:

  • Art: The permanent installation “Whorl Whirl: Our Circular Nature” by artist Norie Sato was featured at the ribbon-cutting event for the Southeast Treatment Plant. Spanning 335 feet in length, the piece draws inspiration from the movement and transformation of wastewater, connecting public art to people and place.
  • Education: This year, the Community Benefits team provided 113 free field trips for 2,794 students and 446 adult volunteers at the College Hill Learning Garden, where staff engage students in environmental education and learning experiences.
  • Environmental Justice and Land Use: As part of the work to transform underutilized SFPUC land, the Community Benefits team supports community gardens including College Hill Learning Garden and Hummingbird Farm.
  • Social Impact Partnerships: Community Benefits continue to work with firms that contract with the SFPUC on opportunities for voluntary financial contributions and volunteer hours to nonprofits and public education programs in the communities we serve. In 2025, 34 contractor firms contributed over $4.8 million to 89 beneficiaries that run programs focused on job exposure and internships, environment and community health, education, small business support, and housing and economic support across eight counties.
  • Southeast Community Center: In its third year of operations, the Southeast Community Center (SECC) continues to grow as a vital hub for connection, culture, and community resilience. To date, the SECC has hosted over 3,200 events that brought over 106,000 visitors. This year, the SECC hosted 824 events and 67 building tours that brought over 26,000 visitors.
  • Workforce: Through the Project Learning Grant program, Community Benefits partnered with 16 organizations to serve 731 young adults to explore real-world environmental challenges, while also gaining valuable exposure to careers in the government and utility industries. As part of Science in the City, 17 teachers toured the Southeast Treatment Plant, Lake Merced, and other SFPUC facilities this summer, while diving deep into environmental justice, climate resilience, and urban water management.

Transparency and accountability are core to how Community Benefits operates. The team publishes an annual report and annual update to its public dashboard to share the work they do with ratepayers, partners, and other stakeholders.

“As we honor 15 years of service, we also look forward with intention. The Community Benefits division will continue to deepen partnerships, achieve equitable outcomes, and ensure that SFPUC’s mission and values are amplified throughout our service area,” said Ronnie.