Reflections from an SSC Fellow

May 25, 2026

By Manpreet Singh, Public Education Coordinator Fellow

Manpreet joined SuSol in February as our Public Education Coordinator Fellow through the Sustainability Service Corps. Here, she shares about her experience. It has been such a positive experience for the organization that we are honored to be a host site again this year for the September 2026-July 2027 Fellowship. 

Are you interested in bringing change while growing as a sustainability leader? Learn more and apply here: https://www.sustainabilityservicecorps.org/fellowships

Manpreet works alongside community members at the Prosperity Park resilient garden installation in Suisun City

When I joined Sustainable Solano as a Sustainability Services Corp (SSC) Fellow, I hadn’t fully anticipated how deeply fulfilling this work would be, both personally and professionally. 

During my graduate program at Boston University, I became passionate about addressing the intersection of climate change and social vulnerabilities. As I was navigating career goals and potential pathways for public service, I was driven to take climate action that addresses environmental injustices, empowers communities to speak up and take action, and plant the seeds for systemic change for regenerative, just and resilient communities.  

I was drawn to join the AmeriCorps Fellow Program as a 2026 SSC Fellow due to their mission to support community-based climate change solutions. As Sustainable Solano’s Public Education Coordinator Fellow,I not only get to actualize the organization’s mission to build an ecologically regenerative, economically and socially just world through programs that empower communities to take climate action, but I also get to serve my community in Solano County where I was born and raised. 

Although it’s only been a few months, I’ve had the opportunity to support a range of work that resonates with my core values and goals — particularly focusing on community-led localized action and addressing urgent and current issues impacting Solano County. Some key projects that I’ve supported include

  1. Drafting the Rio Vista Community Air Quality Action Plan, a strategic document that centers community voices at the forefront of city decisions that affect air quality and resiliency.
  2. Collaborating with community members and local government representatives to assess sea level risks in Solano County, raise awareness of sea level rise and how it can impact environmental justice and frontline communities throughout Solano County, and ensure that community input is heard and implemented in the development of a Regional Shoreline Action Plan as part of the Bayshore Resiliency Project
  3.  Developing the vision for a new program focused on a just transition in Benicia and Vallejo to set the stage for the shift away from a fossil fuel-based economy to a regenerative economy through youth and community empowerment, education, and workforce development.
Manpreet (center) conducts community asset mapping for flood resilience along with Vallejo Environmental Leadership Fellowship interns at the Vallejo Farmers Market
Setting up for tabling at Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District’s 75th anniversary event

Reflecting on my work over the past months, the moments I found most fulfilling were when I was engaging with people and the environment. I’m supporting community-engaged adaptation planning that puts community members’ voices at the forefront of addressing critical issues — a mission that I am passionate about pursuing.

At tabling events, workshops and garden installations, I’m not just sharing my knowledge, but I’m also listening and learning from community member’s lived experiences. Additionally, supporting classes for high schoolers in the Youth Air Protectors and Vallejo Environmental Leadership Fellows programs gives me the opportunity to connect with youth leaders and help shape the next generation of sustainability leaders. Actively engaging with residents and government leaders has provided me with pathways to pursue deeper connections within my community and help me hone my role as someone who can help my community grow.

A key goal of my going into this fellowship was to grow both professionally and personally. This means strengthening my policy analysis skills, communication skills, and confidence so that I can be the leader that I want to be. Sustainable Solano and SSC are actively making efforts to help me grow by shaping opportunities that align with my goals and providing mentorship that acts as the cornerstone of my career development.

At Sustainable Solano, I’m part of a team dedicated to empowering residents to take action at home and within their communities to address critical climate and environmental issues. This role has proven to be much more than just a job; it’s providing unexpected opportunities to make a real difference and grow. I‘m driven to leverage my experience as an SSC Fellow to champion community-driven policy in my public service career and ensure that community voices are central to policy development.

I encourage anyone interested in taking climate action through building systemic change and collaboration with communities to apply to serve as an SSC Fellow with Sustainable Solano.

Please feel free to reach out and connect with me on LinkedIn if you want to learn more or have any questions!

Building Local Flood Resilience

Apr 29, 2026

By Manpreet Singh, Public Education Coordinator Fellow

There will be an online public workshop on May 20 for those interested in learning and offering feedback on local flood resilience planning, and two upcoming community workgroups — Vallejo on May 30 and Suisun City on June 13. Residents of Vallejo, Fairfield or Suisun City who are interested in being part of a workgroup can fill out this interest form.

As a lifelong resident of Vallejo, I have seen the effects of flooding on the city. Flooding has impacted my and other residents’ ability to walk and drive on local roads, commute via highways, and get access to essential health services and public spaces. My concern about flood risks in Vallejo has only grown in recent years with the harsh impacts felt by local residents and infrastructure from more dramatic King tides that hit the Vallejo shoreline in 2025 and early 2026 and learning that the entirety of White Slough, parts of Mare Island, and portions of South Vallejo are at risk of being flooded by 2050. This affects vulnerable community members, such as the unhoused population and children, and critical infrastructure that many residents use such as essential healthcare services, businesses, homes, and government buildings.

Sea level rise projections from the Bayshore Resiliency Project

As part of the Solano Bayshore Resiliency Project, I’ve had the opportunity to share flood risk projections with community members in Vallejo. Unsurprisingly, residents expressed similar concerns and highlighted additional infrastructure that is of importance to them and that they  want protected from flood risks.

With an extensive coastline, rich ecosystem of estuaries, and low-lying lands along the Bayshore, Solano County is vulnerable to rising sea levels and flooding due to melting ice caps and thermal expansion of the ocean. Flooding can result in widespread damage and impacts can be further intensified as the Bay Area could see up to an additional 10 inches of sea level rise by 2050 and 2 – 7 feet of sea level rise by 2100. The sea knows no boundaries, which is why building resilience through a community-informed plan is key to ensuring that communities and critical infrastructure that are most vulnerable to sea level rise and flooding can adapt and be prepared for the more frequent and destructive flooding events in the coming years. Through the Solano Bayshore Resiliency Project, Solano County residents in cities vulnerable to sea level rise and flooding have the opportunity to share their voices and ensure that community priorities are centered in the planning process of the Regional Shoreline Action Plan.  

Sustainable Solano and Greenbelt Alliance, collaborating partners on the project, are leading efforts to hear from community members to identify assets that are important to them and that they want protected from sea level rise and flooding. In February and March, both organizations led asset mapping activities and flood walks with over 150 residents across Fairfield, Suisun City, and Vallejo — frontline cities that are vulnerable to the impacts of sea level rise and flooding. These activities gathered information on areas important to local residents, bringing community members’ voices in as an important part of the planning to ensure adaptation and protection from sea level rise.

Manpreet (center) conducts community asset mapping for flood resilience along with Vallejo Environmental Leadership Fellowship interns at the Vallejo Farmers Market

Through the asset mapping activity, community members shared insights into where they have seen flooding and identified assets they want protected. This was an activity that I led in Vallejo where I assisted residents in identifying critical infrastructure and community resources such as Interstate 80 and Highway 37, the Vallejo Marina, local libraries, healthcare services, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions. This data will be analyzed and incorporated into the Shoreline Action Plan as recommendations of what should be protected from sea level rise and flooding. Engaging with my local community provided me with the opportunity to hear about their experiences living in regions vulnerable to flooding and trends and patterns that they have seen over time. Moreover, I heard from residents what they love about their city, such as the diversity and the people, and where they see opportunities for improvement in their respective communities.

Through interactive flood walks, residents of each city had the opportunity to learn more about sea level rise, how it will impact their shorelines, and ways flooding could threaten homes, roadways, community centers, businesses, and natural habitats. During the Vallejo flood walk, residents responded to how development and land use changes have made areas more prone to flooding and how wastewater plants can be impacted by flooding due to being built on the lowest lying parts of the city and aging infrastructure.

Suisun City Flood Walk
Vallejo Flood Walk

Community engagement is critical in addressing sea level rise and flooding impacts in Solano County. Residents have the opportunity to provide insights as the Bayshore Resiliency Project is an ongoing project with the Regional Shoreline Action Plan to be published in December 2026.

Celebration Gratitude from Sustainable Solano

Sep 30, 2024

By Sustainable Solano

Attendees could view a timeline of SuSol’s 25-year history (Photo credit (all): Luke George)

We would like to extend a warm thank you to everyone who attended our 25th Anniversary celebration! Your presence truly made the evening special, and it was wonderful to see so many familiar faces and meet new friends who share our passion for the mission of our organization.

A special thank you to Assemblymember Lori Wilson, and the representatives for Congressmen Mike Thompson and John Garamendi for attending our event. We are grateful for the state Legislature recognition, Congressional commendation, and recognition from Wanda Williams with the Board of Supervisors. Your support means the world to us and helps us continue our work!

Assemblymember Lori Wilson recognizes SuSol / Attendees enjoy a farm-to-table dinner from Chef Lindsey Chelini

It was fantastic to witness everyone coming together, sharing their insights, and contributing to our vision board. Your ideas and perspectives are invaluable as we shape the future of our programs. Look for a blog in November where we will share some of the insights we received from attendees, how they intersect with our current work and where they guide us to look in our future work.

We’d love for you to stay involved! Whether it’s attending future events or making a donation to keep this work going, your support is crucial in helping us continue our mission. Every little bit counts and makes a difference.

SuSol staff and a Youth Leadership Council alum discuss programs with attendees

Thank you once again for being part of our journey. We’re excited to move forward together, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds!

Internship Addresses Climate Change, Sea Level Rise, Solutions

Aug 2, 2024

By Alan Candelario, Suisun City Nature-Based Solutions intern

Our Nature-Based Solutions internship in Suisun City focused on the risks posed by sea level rise and possibilities with nature-based solutions to flooding. Interns learned about these approaches and brought their insight to community gatherings to get resident insight about risks, how they use the waterfront, and what types of solutions they prioritize. Here, Alan shares about his experience in the internship.

Interns offer feedback on a map of downtown Suisun City during a community workshop

I’ve learned many things regarding climate change and what to expect for Suisun if nothing is done to combat rising sea levels. If we do nothing, Suisun could be practically submerged in 50 years time. I also learned ways to combat flooding – for example putting seawalls or a levee or nature-based solutions like marsh restoration, which restores the wetlands so animals can have a better habitat and the area around can be better. This could mean people being able to walk to it and just relax, and also for wildlife to have an area to call home.

I also made new friends here at the internship. Everyone at the internship was nice and explained things to us clearly. Some of my favorite events were the flood walk, which helped paint a picture of what parts of Suisun would be flooded if action isn’t taken. A flood walk is a great event to attend if you want to learn more about what the city is already doing to prevent flooding and what they could do in select areas to combat flooding.

Outside of Raley’s we helped hand out flyers to people in hopes that they would attend a workshop and get information about flooding and sea level rise in Suisun. The workshop was an event people could attend and learn about sea rise levels, ask questions if they had any concerns and share their perspectives. I also attended a garden walk where people went to get information on how to make a good garden for the environment which uses rain and rainwater. It also helps prevent floods if enough people do it.

At the end of the day my experience with the internship was amazing. I met cool people, I learned valuable things about climate change, and I had fun. If I were asked if I would do this again, I would say yes 10/10 would recommend. I also joined this internship since I wanted to see what the city was doing to combat climate change so people could have a better future here in Suisun.

This internship opened my eyes more to the world of environmental science. I was already interested in it since I had taken a class my junior year, but the internship helped me see the bigger picture like flood prevention. So I plan to hopefully study environmental science later in life and help prevent things like sea level rise.