Arriba South Coast

Arriba works at the intersection of climate resilience, environmental justice, and community empowerment in rural San Mateo County. We convene community experts to advance resilient infrastructure projects, collaborate with public agencies to create places of belonging, and facilitate programs to lift up local voices while strengthening our rural economy. We empower rural San Mateo County communities to address issues such as disaster preparedness, affordable and reliable energy, access to clean water, and vibrant public spaces using place-based strategies for transformative community-led solutions.

Arriba South Coast is a fiscal project of Coastal Quest, a 501(c)(3) non-profit working collaboratively to build resilient coastal communities.

Arriba South Coast serves the unincorporated coastal San Mateo County area, including the communities of Pescadero, La Honda, Loma Mar, and San Gregorio. This rural area is vastly different from the dense urban towns on the Peninsula, requiring different approaches to community-building, infrastructure design, and capital investment models. According to 2020 Census data, more than 43% of South Coast households earn less than $75,000, even with two or more working adults. Approximately half the population are limited English or monolingual Spanish speakers. Our economy is heavily reliant on agriculture and hospitality, while our coastal location makes us particularly vulnerable to the negative impacts of a changing climate.

Arriba's Values:

Care for People and Place – We nurture both human and environmental well-being, recognizing the deep interconnection between who we are and where we are.

Synergistic Collaboration – We foster meaningful connections and partnerships that create a strong social fabric and impactful solutions.

Nature as a Model – We trust in nature’s wisdom as a guide for sustainable and resilient practices.

Openness and Adaptability – We embrace innovation, responsiveness, and continuous learning to meet evolving needs.

Empowered Communities, Shared Prosperity – We support community-led solutions that create mutual benefits for people and ecosystems.