When: Thursday, March 20th, 5:30pm-7:30pm

Where: Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, 107 Broadway, Half Moon Bay, CA, 94019

Admission and snacks are complimentary. Beer, wine, and other beverages will be available for sale at the event.

Join Us For Brews&Views! A Discussion With Lenny Mendonca and Peter B. Kaufman, Senior Program Officer at MIT Open Learning and Executive Producer of Intelligent Television to discuss his new book, The Moving Image

How did we come to believe so many lies that we voted into the most powerful political and military post in the world a reality TV star from NBC, groomed by a reality TV producer from CBS, who then appointed his Cabinet from Fox?

The moving image had something to do with it! Local independent bookstore Ink Spell Books will have copies of The Moving Image to purchase at the event.

Guest and Moderator Bios:

Peter B. Kaufman

Peter B. Kaufman is Senior Program Officer at MIT Open Learning and Executive Producer of Intelligent Television. Earlier he served as Associate Director of Columbia University’s Center for Teaching and Learning. Educated at Cornell and Columbia, Kaufman is the author of The New Enlightenment and the Fight to Free Knowledge (Seven Stories Press, 2021), The Moving Image: A User’s Manual (MIT Press, 2025) and The Fifth Estate: Knowledge and Power in the 21st Century (Seven Stories Press, forthcoming). He also has served as co-chair of the Copyright Committee of the Association of Moving Image Archivists; a member of the Scholar Advisory Committee of WGBH's American Archive of Public Broadcasting; and a consultant to the Library of Congress’s National Audiovisual Conservation Center, the largest archive of moving images and recorded sound in the world.

Lenny Mendonca, Moderator

Co-founder of the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Former Chief Economic and Business Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom of California. He is a Senior Partner Emeritus of McKinsey & Company and a Lecturer on Inequality at the Stanford Business School. He founded McKinsey’s U.S. state and local public sector consulting practice. He also oversaw their knowledge development, Chairing the McKinsey Global Institute and the Firm's communications, including the McKinsey Quarterly. He is also the Founding Chair of the Coastside News Group (Half Moon Bay Review and Pacifica Tribune).

When: Thursday, March 6th, 5:30pm-7:30pm

Where: Mavericks House, 107 Broadway, Half Moon Bay, CA, 94019

Admission and snacks are complimentary. Beer, wine, and other beverages will be available for sale at the event.

Watch the Film Walk With Me presented by Beach Break Entertainment followed by a discussion with moderator Lenny Mendonca and transportation experts from Perkins & Will design firm. Please note this event will be held at Mavericks House.

The movie Walk With Me is a personal narrative about the filmmaker David Hodge’s rediscovery of the value of walking, follows his adjustment from a car-dependent American city to an eminently walkable Scandinavian city.

Following the viewing of “Walk With Me”, a documentary by Half Moon Bay residents David and Hi-Jin Hodge, join us for a brief presentation by Gerry Tierney and Geeti Silwal, Perkins & Will, to explore opportunities for enhanced and safer pedestrian, bike, transit, and automobile connectivity along Highway 1. Let’s engage in a meaningful discussion about creating a safer, more connected, and accessible future for all the residents of our coastal communities.

Guest and Moderator Bios:

Gerry Tierney AIA, LEED AP BD+C

Gerry Tierney is the former Associate Principal and Director Emeritus of Perkins & Will’s Mobility Lab, specializing in urban mobility and its impact on public spaces. Founder of the REDCAR project, he collaborates with academia to address evolving mobility challenges. He has presented at top institutions like UC Berkeley, MIT, and Trinity College Dublin, as well as major industry conferences. His research focuses on TNCs, micro-mobility, autonomous vehicles, augmented transit, curb demand, and parking in urban design. Currently he is researching the implementation of the “15-minute suburb”.

Geeti Silwan - Principal, Cities+Sites Practice Leader

Geeti grew up in a small, hard-working, steel township in India called Durgapur. As one of four siblings, Geeti attributes her principles of ‘zero waste’ to her humble family upbringing. Her parents have been her greatest inspiration in life. Studying architecture at Jadavpur University in Kolkata and spending her early design years in Delhi, Geeti discovered her intense desire to use the power of good design to positively impact a greater number of lives and enable richer daily experiences for the common person. This discovery propelled her to pursue a master’s degree in Urban Design at UC Berkeley.

Lenny Mendonca, Moderator

Co-founder of the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Former Chief Economic and Business Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom of California. He is a Senior Partner Emeritus of McKinsey & Company and a Lecturer on Inequality at the Stanford Business School. He founded McKinsey’s U.S. state and local public sector consulting practice. He also oversaw their knowledge development, Chairing the McKinsey Global Institute and the Firm's communications, including the McKinsey Quarterly. He is also the Founding Chair of the Coastside News Group (Half Moon Bay Review and Pacifica Tribune).

ABOUT:

Perkins & Will is a global, multi-disciplinary design firm with offices across North & South America, Europe, and Asia. Committed to creating meaningful spaces, the firm focuses on inspiring joy, strengthening communities, and making a positive impact. Believing that architecture tells a story, Perkins & Will designs with purpose—enlivening neighborhoods, building communities, and promoting sustainability.

Filmmakers David and Hi-Jin Hodge

David Hodge and Hi-Jin Kang Hodge have created video installations for artistic exhibitions around the world. Their pieces typically blend editorial materials and innovative uses of technology to explore complex human and social questions. Above all, they create cohesive work that identifies foundational principles and expands on them through multiple viewpoints.

Beach Break Entertainment

Julie Mell

Founded by Julie Mell in August 2020, Beach Break brings independent films and outdoor movie experiences to the San Mateo County coast. Inspired by her love for independent cinema and years attending Sundance, Julie launched the initiative during the COVID-19 shutdown, offering pop-up drive-in screenings that supported local businesses and nonprofits. Encouraged by the community, she later established the Beach Break Film Festival (BBFFHMB), with its inaugural event in December 2022. With a background in film festivals and community engagement, Julie has successfully created a unique cultural event showcasing groundbreaking independent films. Beach Break Entertainment has donated over $35,000 to local nonprofits.

When: Thursday, February 13th, 5:30pm-7:30pm

Where: Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Half Moon Bay, CA, 94019

Admission and snacks are complimentary. Beer, wine, and other beverages will be available for sale at the event. Ten percent of the proceeds from all dinner sales at Half Moon Bay Brewing Company for this event will be donated to the Cabrillo Education Foundation.

Join us for a free public forum with Lenny Mendonca, Margie Gater and Kathy Wheeler from the League of Women Voters (LWV) for a nonpartisan explanation of Measure A; a proposed charter amendment granting the Board of Supervisors authority to remove an elected sheriff from office.

The LWV Pros & Cons is a nonpartisan explanation of ballot propositions, including supporting and opposing arguments. The material comes from many sources and is not limited to that presented in the Official Voter Information Guide. Learn the overview of Measure A, what your vote means, the fiscal effects, what supporters and opponents say, key dates and more!

Guest and Moderator Bios:

Margie Gater

A Director and Co-chair of Voter Service of the League of Women Voters of North & Central San Mateo County. She also serves on its Membership and Nominating Committees. Margie is a proud 2nd-generation LWV Member.

Kathy Wheeler

A Director and Co-chair of Voter Service of the League of Women Voters of North & Central San Mateo County. She is also its Webmaster and IT expert. Kathy has been with the league for 10+ years.

Lenny Mendonca, Moderator

Co-founder of the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Former Chief Economic and Business Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom of California. He is a Senior Partner Emeritus of McKinsey & Company and a Lecturer on Inequality at the Stanford Business School. He founded McKinsey’s U.S. state and local public sector consulting practice. He also oversaw their knowledge development, Chairing the McKinsey Global Institute and the Firm's communications, including the McKinsey Quarterly. He is also the Founding Chair of the Coastside News Group (Half Moon Bay Review and Pacifica Tribune).

When: February 5th, 5:30pm-7:30pm

Where: Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Half Moon Bay, CA, 94019

Admission and snacks are complimentary. Beer, wine, and other beverages will be available for sale at the event. Ten percent of the proceeds from all dinner sales at Half Moon Bay Brewing Company for this event will be donated to the Cabrillo Education Foundation.

Join us for a free public forum with Lenny Mendonca, SMC Supervisor Ray Mueller, and other special guests for a town hall discussion about the new Dignity Health Sequoia Clinic in Half Moon Bay..

Dignity Health has opened a pilot primary care clinic in Half Moon Bay that operates Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm. A primary care provider is typically your first point of contact for all your health issues, from healthy lifestyle choices to common medical treatments. Dignity Health strives to offer short wait times and make an efficient diagnosis to get to the right treatment for patients. Find out more about this pilot urgent care clinic and what it offers.

Guest and Moderator Bios:

Supervisor Ray Mueller

Supervisor Ray Mueller was elected in 2022 to represent District 3 on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. Since taking office, Ray has been dedicated to addressing critical issues facing the community, from public health and infrastructure, to housing and public safety. He has been instrumental in launching the Coastside Resilient Infrastructure Strategic Plan (CRISP) that today lists over 100 projects to strengthen coastal protections and led the creation of a pilot urgent care clinic to fill the healthcare gap left by the closure of the area’s only ER.

Lenny Mendonca, Moderator

Co-founder of the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Former Chief Economic and Business Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom of California. He is a Senior Partner Emeritus of McKinsey & Company and a Lecturer on Inequality at the Stanford Business School. He founded McKinsey’s U.S. state and local public sector consulting practice. He also oversaw their knowledge development, Chairing the McKinsey Global Institute and the Firm's communications, including the McKinsey Quarterly. He is also the Founding Chair of the Coastside News Group (Half Moon Bay Review and Pacifica Tribune).

When: January 8th, 5:30pm-7:30pmpm

Where: Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Half Moon Bay, CA, 94019

Admission and snacks are complimentary. Beer, wine, and other beverages will be available for sale at the event. Ten percent of the proceeds from all dinner sales at Half Moon Bay Brewing Company for this event will be donated to the Cabrillo Education Foundation.

Join Lenny Menonca, Common Cause National Board Member for a fireside chat with Virginia Kase Solomón, Common Cause President.

Virginia Kase Solomón has spent three decades fighting for social justice and civil rights. In 2024, she joined the Common Cause as their President and CEO. Common Cause puts its state and national policy expertise, massive network of grassroots supporters, and nonpartisan approach into action to strengthen our democracy against the challenges it faces today. Common Cause works at every level of government on priorities that impact each of our lives—like defending the right to vote, limiting big money’s influence on our elections, holding public officials accountable, and more.

Common Cause’s recent accomplishments include:

• Recruited, trained, and deployed 15,000 Election Protection volunteers

• Activated 20,000 young people to vote in North Carolina

• Won fair maps in Wisconsin

• Defeated prison gerrymandering in Minnesota

• Banned deep fakes in political ads in California

• Protected public financing for campaigns in Florida

Guest and Moderator Bios:

Virginia Kase Solomón

As President and CEO of Common Cause, Virginia leverages her 30 years of experience in advocacy, organizing, and policy to deliver pro-democracy wins at every level of government. She is the organization’s tenth president, fourth woman, and first Hispanic person to lead in the permanent role.

Prior to joining Common Cause, she served as CEO of the League of Women Voters where she led the organization through rapid growth and success. Under her watch the organization expanded state capacity, tripled the budget and staff, and increased membership by 30 percent. She led the League’s “No Excuses” campaign that successfully pressured President Biden to support ending the filibuster for voting rights legislation.

Lenny Mendonca, Moderator

Co-founder of the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Former Chief Economic and Business Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom of California. He is a Senior Partner Emeritus of McKinsey & Company and a Lecturer on Inequality at the Stanford Business School. He founded McKinsey’s U.S. state and local public sector consulting practice. He also oversaw their knowledge development, Chairing the McKinsey Global Institute and the Firm's communications, including the McKinsey Quarterly. He is also the Founding Chair of the Coastside News Group (Half Moon Bay Review and Pacifica Tribune).

When: December 19th, 6pm-8pm

Where: Mavericks House, 107 Broadway, Half Moon Bay, CA, 94019

Admission and snacks are complimentary. Beer, wine, and other beverages will be available for sale at the event. Ten percent of the proceeds from all dinner sales at Half Moon Bay Brewing Company for this event will be donated to the Cabrillo Education Foundation.

Brews & Views welcomes San Mateo County District 3 Supervisor Ray Mueller.

Supervisor Mueller would like to hear all feedback from community stakeholders and discuss the tsunami warning event response.

Guest and Moderator Bios:

Ray Mueller, District 3 Supervisorr

Ray is a California native and Bay Area resident for over 25 years. Ray previously served as a Menlo Park City Councilmember in 2012 and 2016 and served as Mayor twice. Prior to his service on the Menlo Park City Council, Ray served as Chair of the Menlo Park Transportation Commission.

Professionally, Ray works as an in-house attorney in the Emergency Response and Services sector. Prior to this Ray served as Chief of Staff to Santa Clara County Supervisor and former State Senator S. Joseph Simitian. His career includes practicing law both in-house and as a private litigator.

Lenny Mendonca, Moderator

Co-founder of the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Former Chief Economic and Business Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom of California. He is a Senior Partner Emeritus of McKinsey & Company and a Lecturer on Inequality at the Stanford Business School. He founded McKinsey’s U.S. state and local public sector consulting practice. He also oversaw their knowledge development, Chairing the McKinsey Global Institute and the Firm's communications, including the McKinsey Quarterly. He is also the Founding Chair of the Coastside News Group (Half Moon Bay Review and Pacifica Tribune).

When: November 14th, 5:30pm-7:30pm

Where: Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Half Moon Bay, CA, 94019

Admission and snacks are complimentary. Beer, wine, and other beverages will be available for sale at the event. Ten percent of the proceeds from all dinner sales at Half Moon Bay Brewing Company for this event will be donated to the Cabrillo Education Foundation.

Join us for a free public forum with Lenny Mendonca, and special guests for a town hall discussion of the implications of the 2024 election.

The election is over—so what comes next? Join Lenny and special guests as they discuss the outcomes, Project 2025, and practical steps for renewing democracy from the ground up. Together, we’ll explore how to build a better future, just as we've done before.

Lenny Mendonca

Co-founder of the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Former Chief Economic and Business Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom of California. He is a Senior Partner Emeritus of McKinsey & Company and a Lecturer on Inequality at the Stanford Business School. He founded McKinsey’s U.S. state and local public sector consulting practice. He also oversaw their knowledge development, Chairing the McKinsey Global Institute and the Firm's communications, including the McKinsey Quarterly. He is also the Founding Chair of the Coastside News Group (Half Moon Bay Review and Pacifica Tribune).

Alex Evans

Alex Evans served as a senior aide to Oakland Mayor Libby Schaff and as Chief of Staff and Senior Strategist for Congressman’s Swalwell’s presidential campaign, Swalwell for America. Prior to that Alex was the President of EMC Research, a full-service public opinion and market research company with offices across the U.S. He holds a Bachelor's degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master's degree in public policy from the University of Michigan.

When: October 22nd, 6pm-8pm

Where: Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Half Moon Bay, CA, 94019

Admission and snacks are complimentary. Beer, wine, and other beverages will be available for sale at the event. Ten percent of the proceeds from all dinner sales at Half Moon Bay Brewing Company for this event will be donated to the Cabrillo Education Foundation.

With the election just around the corner, we know there’s a lot on your mind.

Join us for a free public forum featuring Natalie Foster, the president of the Economic Security Project, who’s book The Guarantee offers a bold vision for America’s next economy—one that ensures every person in America can thrive.

A discussion of the book: The Guarantee: Inside the Fight for America’s Next Economy by Natalie Foster asks us to imagine an America where housing, health care, a college education, dignified work, family care, an inheritance, and an income floor are not only attainable for all but guaranteed, by our government, for everyone. The Guarantee is the rare book that will shift the terms of debate, moving us from the expired and defunct assumptions of no-guardrails capitalism to a nation that works for all of its people. The Guarantee can be ordered in advance here.

Guest and Moderator Bios:

Natalie Foster

Natalie Foster is a leading architect of the movement to build an inclusive and resilient economy that works for all. President and co-founder of Economic Security Project and Aspen Institute Fellow, her work and writing has appeared in The New York Times, USA Today, TIME, Business Insider, CNN, and The Guardian. Natalie speaks regularly on economic security, the future of work and the new political economy. An unstoppable builder, Natalie previously founded the sharing economy community Peers and co-founded Rebuild the Dream with Van Jones, and served as Digital Director for President Obama's Organizing for America - a leading partner in winning transformative healthcare reform. A daughter of a preacher from Kansas, Natalie draws on the values of community, dignity, and optimism to build a better America. She lives in Oakland, California with her husband and two kids. The Guarantee is her first book.

Lenny Mendonca, Moderator

Co-founder of the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Former Chief Economic and Business Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom of California. He is a Senior Partner Emeritus of McKinsey & Company and a Lecturer on Inequality at the Stanford Business School. He founded McKinsey’s U.S. state and local public sector consulting practice. He also oversaw their knowledge development, Chairing the McKinsey Global Institute and the Firm's communications, including the McKinsey Quarterly. He is also the Founding Chair of the Coastside News Group (Half Moon Bay Review and Pacifica Tribune).

When: October 2nd, 6pm-8pm

Where: Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Half Moon Bay, CA, 94019

Admission and snacks are complimentary. Beer, wine, and other beverages will be available for sale at the event. Ten percent of the proceeds from all dinner sales at Half Moon Bay Brewing Company for this event will be donated to the Cabrillo Education Foundation.

With the election just around the corner, we know there’s a lot on your mind.

We’re excited to tell you that Alex Evans, leading expert pollster and political strategist, is back again to provide his valuable insights. Let’s explore what the future could hold together.

What will happen on November 5th? Join us for a conversation with Alex Evans who has over 40 years of extensive experience in the design, execution and analysis of all forms of opinion research, focus groups, and voter polls.  Alex has worked at every level of election in the United States and abroad and for major corporations.

Guest and Moderator Bios:

Alex Evans

Alex Evans served as a senior aide to Oakland Mayor Libby Schaff and as Chief of Staff and Senior Strategist for Congressman’s Swalwell’s presidential campaign, Swalwell for America. Prior to that Alex was the President of EMC Research, a full-service public opinion and market research company with offices across the U.S. He holds a Bachelor's degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master's degree in public policy from the University of Michigan.

Lenny Mendonca, Moderator

Co-founder of the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Former Chief Economic and Business Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom of California. He is a Senior Partner Emeritus of McKinsey & Company and a Lecturer on Inequality at the Stanford Business School. He founded McKinsey’s U.S. state and local public sector consulting practice. He also oversaw their knowledge development, Chairing the McKinsey Global Institute and the Firm's communications, including the McKinsey Quarterly. He is also the Founding Chair of the Coastside News Group (Half Moon Bay Review and Pacifica Tribune).

When: September 19th, 6pm-8pm

Where: Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Half Moon Bay, CA, 94019

Admission and snacks are complimentary. Beer, wine, and other beverages will be available for sale at the event. Ten percent of the proceeds from all dinner sales at Half Moon Bay Brewing Company for this event will be donated to the Cabrillo Education Foundation.

Recent national battleground research conducted by GIFFORDS found that 70% of Americans in battleground districts voters are “extremely” or “very” concerned about gun violence. These findings suggest that with control of the House, Senate, and White House at stake, 2024 is a critical year for public safety. Electorally, GIFFORDS is making strategic investments to make the difference in races where the issue of gun violence is uniquely positioned to put campaigns over the top. GIFFORDS is also supporting the advocacy efforts of gun sense champions in office across the country, with a special focus on congressional districts where gun violence messaging is powerful among women and Latino voters. We hope you will join us for this engaging conversation on gun safety progress in our country, what’s at stake, and how you can get involved to support GIFFORDS and their gun violence prevention advocacy efforts.

Guest and Moderator Bios:

Peter Ambler

Peter Ambler co-founded GIFFORDS with Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, Senator Mark Kelly and served as the executive director of GIFFORDS from 2013-2023. Since its founding, GIFFORDS has emerged as a national leader in the gun violence prevention movement, including organizing a coalition of responsible gun owners who support commonsense gun safety laws across the U.S. Under Peter's leadership, he oversaw GIFFORDS' defining moments as it has challenged the NRA, changed the politics and culture of guns, won elections, and passed over 300 gun safety laws across the country. Prior to co-founding GIFFORDS, Peter served as then-Representative Gabby Giffords' Legislative Director in 2011 when she was shot at a Tucson supermarket during a constituent event. He is a graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.

Lenny Mendonca, Moderator

Co-founder of the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Former Chief Economic and Business Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom of California. He is a Senior Partner Emeritus of McKinsey & Company and a Lecturer on Inequality at the Stanford Business School. He founded McKinsey’s U.S. state and local public sector consulting practice. He also oversaw their knowledge development, Chairing the McKinsey Global Institute and the Firm's communications, including the McKinsey Quarterly. He is also the Founding Chair of the Coastside News Group (Half Moon Bay Review and Pacifica Tribune).

When: May 9th, 6pm-8pm

Where: Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Half Moon Bay, CA, 94019

Free Admission

Join us for a free public forum featuring prize-winning writer Duffy Jennings, known for his work at the San Francisco Chronicle during the eventful 1970s. His coverage included major events such as the City Hall assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, the Patty Hearst kidnapping, and the Zodiac and Zebra serial murders. Duffy will delve into his career and discuss his latest book, "SFPD Homicide Inspector Frank Falzon: 5-Henry-7," which he co-authored with Falzon.

Throughout his 22-year tenure as a San Francisco homicide inspector, Frank Falzon delved into over 300 murder cases under the radio call sign 5-Henry-7. The "5" represented the Inspectors Bureau, "Henry" indicated Homicide, and "7" was Falzon's inspector number. Discover firsthand accounts of Falzon's high-profile cases as Duffy Jennings recounts their collaboration in a memoir.  

Admission and snacks are complimentary. Beer, wine and other beverages will be available for sale at the event. Dine at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company afterwards and ten percent of evening dining proceeds will benefit the Cabrillo Education Foundation.

Guest and Moderator Bios:

Duffy Jennings

As a prize-winning writer for the San Francisco Chronicle in the tumultuous 1970s, Duffy Jennings’ coverage included the City Hall assassinations of Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, the Patty Hearst kidnapping, and the Zodiac and Zebra serial murders. Veteran actor Adam Goldberg portrayed Duffy in the 2007 film, “Zodiac.” After his journalism career, Jennings served as vice president of public relations for the San Francisco Giants, online sporting goods retailer Fogdog.com, and two Silicon Valley public policy organizations. Duffy earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from San Francisco State University.

Lenny Mendonca, Moderator

Co-founder of the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Former Chief Economic and Business Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom of California. He is a Senior Partner Emeritus of McKinsey & Company and a Lecturer on Inequality at the Stanford Business School. He founded McKinsey’s U.S. state and local public sector consulting practice. He also oversaw their knowledge development, Chairing the McKinsey Global Institute and the Firm's communications, including the McKinsey Quarterly. He is also the Founding Chair of the Coastside News Group (Half Moon Bay Review and Pacifica Tribune).

When: April 4th, 6pm-8pm

Where: Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Half Moon Bay, CA, 94019

Free Admission

Free public forum welcomes Josh Fryday, California's Chief Service Officer who serves on Governor Newsom's cabinet, and charged with leveraging service and volunteerism to tackle our state's pressing challenges, in conversation with Lenny Mendonca, Former Chief Economic and Business Advisor at State of California, and founder of The Half Moon Bay Brewing Company

Over the past few years, Governor Newsom and Josh's partnership has created the nation's largest service corps - now larger than the Peace Corps - providing over 10,000 opportunities for Californians to serve Californians

 Learn how first-in-the-nation programs, such as California Climate Action Corps and #CaliforniansforAll College Corps, are being scaled across the state and nation. California's service corps are leading innovative solutions addressing climate change, education, food insecurity, and disaster preparedness while reducing college debt, providing career pathways, and bridging divides breaking apart our country.  

Admission and snacks are complimentary. Beer, wine and other beverages will be available for sale at the event. Dine at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company afterwards and ten percent of evening dining proceeds will benefit the Cabrillo Education Foundation.

Guest and Moderator Bios:

Josh Fryday, California’s Chief Service Officer

Josh Fryday, a former Mayor of Novato and Officer in the United States Navy, currently serves as the leader of California Volunteers in the Governor's Cabinet. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, he spearheaded the Task Force to aid food insecure communities and food banks statewide. Under his guidance, California Volunteers initiated groundbreaking programs such as the nation's first Climate Action Corps, #CaliforniansForAll volunteer initiative, Neighbor-to-Neighbor campaign, College Corps for student financial support, and Youth Jobs Corps employing underserved youth across critical issue areas. 

Lenny Mendonca, Moderator

Co-founder of the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Former Chief Economic and Business Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom of California. He is a Senior Partner Emeritus of McKinsey & Company and a Lecturer on Inequality at the Stanford Business School. He founded McKinsey’s U.S. state and local public sector consulting practice. He also oversaw their knowledge development, Chairing the McKinsey Global Institute and the Firm's communications, including the McKinsey Quarterly. He is also the Founding Chair of the Coastside News Group (Half Moon Bay Review and Pacifica Tribune).

When: March 7th, 6pm-8pm

Where: Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Half Moon Bay, CA, 94019

Free Admission

Free public forum welcomes Roy Bahat head of Bloomberg Beta, an early-stage venture capital firm backed by Bloomberg L.P. that was the first to focus on the future of work, and the first to focus on artificial intelligence, in conversation with Lenny Mendonca, Former Chief Economic and Business Advisor at State of California, and founder of The Half Moon Bay Brewing Company.

Some researchers call artificial intelligence, a “more transformative technology than the internet” and predict a productivity boom in the next decade driven by the combination of new technologies and business transformation.  What does the future of work look like?  Explore the intersection of human dynamics and AI in the workplace. Join a discussion with a leading expert and investor, Roy Bahat, CEO of Bloomberg Beta.

Admission and snacks are complimentary. Beer, wine and other beverages will be available for sale at the event. Dine at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company afterwards and ten percent of evening dining proceeds will benefit the Cabrillo Education Foundation.

Guest and Moderator Bios:

Roy Bahat, Bloomberg Beta

Roy Bahat is the head of Bloomberg Beta, an early-stage venture capital firm backed by Bloomberg L.P. that was the first to focus on the future of work, and the first to focus on artificial intelligence. Bloomberg Beta has invested in MasterClass, Slack, Flexport, Codecademy, and Textio, among others. Roy was a commissioner on the California Governor’s Future of Work Commission. He graduated from Harvard College, where he ran the student public service nonprofit, and was a Rhodes Scholar.

Lenny Mendonca, Moderator

Co-founder of the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Former Chief Economic and Business Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom of California. He is a Senior Partner Emeritus of McKinsey & Company and a Lecturer on Inequality at the Stanford Business School. He founded McKinsey’s U.S. state and local public sector consulting practice. He also oversaw their knowledge development, Chairing the McKinsey Global Institute and the Firm's communications, including the McKinsey Quarterly. He is also the Founding Chair of the Coastside News Group (Half Moon Bay Review and Pacifica Tribune).

When: February 1st, 6pm-8pm

Where: Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Half Moon Bay, CA, 94019

Free Admission

Free public forum screening of Poverty and Power followed by a discussion with End Poverty In CA (EPIC) president Devon Gray. POVERTY AND POWER is the story of what happens when you bring people with lived experience—their voices, ideas, and aspirations—to the halls of power. It’s a journey that culminates in a rally in Sacramento and inaugural meeting of the Select Committee on Poverty and Economic Inclusion where we have the chance to hear directly from people living in poverty about the policy changes they want to see.  Ultimately, Poverty and Power is an empowering story of what might happen and how transformative it would be if people in poverty were not just listened to, but actually heard.

Admission and snacks are complimentary. Beer, wine and other beverages will be available for sale at the event. Dine at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company afterwards and ten percent of evening dining proceeds will benefit the Cabrillo Education Foundation.

Guest and Moderator Bios:

Devon Gray, President End Poverty in California (EPIC)

Devon Gray is the president of End Poverty in California (EPIC), an advocacy organization founded by former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs. At EPIC, Devon aligns the organization’s priorities, both advancing a statewide policy agenda focused on equal opportunity for all and changing narratives around poverty away from ones based in outdated stereotypes to ones that better reflect the lived experiences of individuals and communities.

Devon joined EPIC in 2022 as Mayor Tubbs' chief of staff and was named the organization's first president the following year. He previously served in the administration of Governor Gavin Newsom as Special Advisor to the Governor’s Chief of Staff, and was also a policy advisor for Beto O'Rourke's presidential campaign, where he led the campaign's gun safety and criminal justice reform strategies. Prior to joining EPIC, he was a director with Evergreen Strategy Group, where he advised gun violence prevention organizations on policy and communications. 

Devon is a graduate of Stanford Law School and the Stanford Graduate School of Education, and his writings have been featured in CalMatters, Newsweek, The Hill, and other publications.

Lenny Mendonca, Moderator

Co-founder of the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Former Chief Economic and Business Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom of California. He is a Senior Partner Emeritus of McKinsey & Company and a Lecturer on Inequality at the Stanford Business School. He founded McKinsey’s U.S. state and local public sector consulting practice. He also oversaw their knowledge development, Chairing the McKinsey Global Institute and the Firm's communications, including the McKinsey Quarterly.

When: Thursday, November 16th, 6pm-8pm

Where: Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Half Moon Bay, CA, 94019

Free Admission

Brews & Views welcomes CEO of CalMatters Neil Chase, Common Cause Media & Democracy Program Manager Maya Chupkov, and Advisor for Coastside News Group Marie C. Baca in conversation with Lenny Mendonca, Former Chief Economic and Business Advisor at State of California, and founder of the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company.

Hear from local and regional experts about government support, policy and budget solutions that can help sustain independent, local, and diverse media. The digital age has shattered newspapers’ business model, turning many communities into “news deserts” with no local journalism. Media industry consolidation has also played a role in the decline of local journalism. In recent years, many smaller newspapers have become part of larger conglomerates that are focused wholly on profits, usually at the expense of local reporting.  Find out how philanthropic efforts and community support can be part of the solution.

Admission and snacks are complimentary. Beer, wine and other beverages will be available for sale at the event. Dine at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company afterwards and ten percent of evening dining proceeds will benefit the Cabrillo Education Foundation.

Guest and Moderator Bios:

JNeil Chase, Chief Executive Officer of CalMatters

Formerly Executive Editor at The Mercury News and the East Bay Times and has worked as a journalist at the San Francisco Examiner, Arizona Republic, CBS MarketWatch and The New York Times.

Maya Chupkov, Media & Democracy Program Manager at California Common Cause

Maya joined Common Cause after serving as the Director of Strategic Communications at the Public Advocates Office at the California Public Utilities Commission. Before that role, she worked as the Communications Director for the Council of Community Housing Organizations (CCHO), developing and implementing media and political advocacy initiatives around affordable housing and land use issues.

Marie C. Baca, Advisor to Coastside News Group and the New Mexico Local News Fund

Marie is an award-winning business and technology journalist whose work has appeared in the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Albuquerque Journal and Semiconductor Engineering, among other publications. Marie holds a bachelor’s degree in human biology from Stanford University and a master’s degree from Stanford’s Graduate Program in Journalism. She is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

Lenny Mendonca, Moderator

Co-founder of the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Former Chief Economic and Business Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom of California. He is a Senior Partner Emeritus of McKinsey & Company and a Lecturer on Inequality at the Stanford Business School.

When: Thursday, October 26st, 6pm-8pm

Where: Mavericks House, 107 Broadway, Half Moon Bay, CA, 94019

Free Admission

Brews & Views welcomes recently retired Congresswoman Jackie Speier, who is also a candidate for SMC Supervisor. Child poverty is happening in the richest county in CA (San Mateo) and what we can do about it. San Mateo County is reflective of the paradox in America. Despite its lofty economic standing, America leads the world with more children experiencing poverty than most other wealthy nations. San Mateo County is a living example of the contrast between extreme wealth and poor. We have the largest income inequality in California. The income of the top 1% in the county is 50 times greater than the income of the remaining 99%. Learn what the Jackie Speier Foundation is doing to address this.

Admission and snacks are complimentary. Beer, wine and other beverages will be available for sale at the event. Dine at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company afterwards and ten percent of evening dining proceeds will benefit the Cabrillo Education Foundation.

Guest and Moderator Bios:

Jackie Speier, Speaker

Recently retired Congresswoman Jackie Speier (pronounced SPEAR) is known as a fearless fighter for women’s equality, LGBTQ rights, and the disenfranchised. After 40 years in public office, she has returned home to campaign against childhood poverty in San Mateo County—the richest county in California yet home to 27,000 children in poverty. She has founded the Jackie Speier Foundation and seeded it with $1 million from her campaign. Jackie has dedicated her life to eliminating government corruption, protecting whistleblowers, eliminating sexual assault in the military, and working to strengthen America’s national and economic security. She was named to Newsweek’s list of 150 “Fearless Women” in the world and one of “Politico's 50” most influential people in American politics for bringing the Me Too reckoning to Congress.

Lenny Mendonca, Moderator

Co-founder of the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, Former Chief Economic and Business Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom of California. He is a Senior Partner Emeritus of McKinsey & Company and a Lecturer on Inequality at the Stanford Business School. He founded McKinsey’s U.S. state and local public sector consulting practice. He also oversaw their knowledge development, Chairing the McKinsey Global Institute and the Firm's communications, including the McKinsey Quarterly.