Announcement SGC Celebrates Executive Director Louise Bedsworth’s Decade of Equity-Focused, Climate and Community Development Accomplishments

The California Strategic Growth Council team is filled with gratitude for the leadership of Louise Bedsworth, who on April 30, 2021 stepped down after nearly three years as SGC’s Executive Director and nearly a decade in State service. Louise shared the following reflections on her time at SGC.

Dear SGC Community and Partners,

I am sitting to write this note as I start my final week as SGC’s Executive Director. Holding this position has been a privilege and an honor. Rather than say farewell, I want to say thank you.

Thank you to our Council members for your leadership. Thank you for contributing your vision, wisdom, and agency capacity to realize SGC’s potential. SGC’s strength stems from its collaborative structure and we have been lucky to have the continued commitment of our Council members. I want to especially thank you for deepening SGC’s commitment to racial equity through your actions.

Thank you to SGC staff for your dedication and drive and your commitment to advance equity in all that you do. Your passion to realize sustainable, equitable communities for all comes through day after day. Your work to meet the needs of SGC’s partners and our organization – especially through the challenges of this past year – has been inspiring.

Thank you to our member agencies and departments for your partnership. SGC’s work would not be possible without our network of key staff and implementation partners. Through this collaboration, we all benefit from your deep expertise and creativity. Thank you for creating the opportunity to share the policy and program innovations that arise through our collaborative structures.

Finally, and especially, thank you to the communities, community members, and stakeholders for pushing us, collaborating with us, and leading us to realize SGC’s vision. SGC is built on the idea that achieving the State’s vision for an equitable, sustainable future happens from the ground up. While in many cases, the State sets the direction, communities are what make it happen. I have learned my most valuable lessons around partnership, collaboration, equity, and leadership through our projects and partnerships with all of you.

With this incredible roster of leaders, staff, and partners, I know I leave SGC in very capable hands. Thank you for all you are doing to realize healthy, thriving, and resilient communities for all.

All the best,
Louise Bedsworth

Louise became SGC’s Executive Director in July 2018 and has led SGC through a period of significant growth and expansion of its integrated community investment and research programs, collaborative policy development, and racial equity work.

The members of the Council commended Louise for her accomplishments and collaborative leadership style during SGC’s public meeting on April 29. Kate Gordon, Director of the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research noted that she came to the State in large part because of the opportunity to chair the Council, and especially to work closely with Louise. Gordon said, “Louise, with your steady hand you made the transition from one administration to the next so much smoother. You are incredibly thorough and thoughtful, perhaps due to your academic background, which helps to ensure we’re thinking through all the issues. At the same time, your laser focus on collaboration ensures we’re implementing our programs with community and equity at the forefront.”

Prior to taking the helm at SGC, Louise served as Deputy Director at the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) during the Brown Administration. After joining OPR in 2011, Louise led work on a number of collaborative research initiatives and climate change adaptation and resilience, including development of the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program and implementation of the State’s $70 million grant awarded under the National Disaster Resilience Competition.

Louise will join the Center for Law Energy and the Environment at Berkeley Law School, where she will direct the Land Use program and support the California-Climate China Institute. She will examine ways to scale and replicate the success of California’s climate programs, especially those based at SGC.

The California Legislature on April 29, 2021 issued a well-deserved resolution in honor of Louise’s many achievements in State service. Read the text of the resolution below the photo and please join the SGC team in commending Louise for her leadership and accomplishments, wishing her well on her path ahead, and thanking her for dedicated work in service of Californians.