Spotlight on Willie L. Brown, Jr. Fellowship Alumni

Campus Manager, India Basin Waterfront Park, San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department, ‘10 Willie L. Brown, Jr. Fellowship Undergraduate Program 

“...years later, this program still impacts my day-to-day decision-making. It’s brought me professional success and helped me build strong relationships in the public sector and the broader community.” 

Professional Development: 

Larry Berry is a spring 2010 Willie Brown Fellow, and currently the India Basin Campus Manager for the Recreation and Parks Department in San Francisco, a site that features scenic views, waterfront access, and natural resources in San Francisco’s Bay View Hunters Point (BVHP) neighborhood. Larry attributes the Willie Brown Fellowship to helping him develop critical skills in policy analysis and fostering the ability to understand the gravity of human impact on the decisions made in the public sector. He learned to consider the real-world effects of policies on individuals’ lives, such as affordability and accessibility in urban planning. His experience during the fellowship, particularly reading the environmental impact report for Mission Bay, taught him the importance of deliberate, intentional work in driving large public projects. 

Importance of Networking: 

Larry cemented the importance of networking and how it has become integral to his career trajectory post-fellowship. Initially, despite his extensive nonprofit experience, he found it challenging to enter the public sector. When he started to utilize his network and interpersonally connect with people before applying for jobs, those opportunities began to manifest. Curating meaningful relationships and influence is best when navigating the public sector. Larry encourages students to use their internship time wisely to deepen their network skills because the public sector relies heavily on connections to advance their careers. 

Impact on Career and Future Plans: 

Larry shared that his fellowship experience continues to influence his day-to-day work as the India Basin Campus Manager. He acknowledges working in a post-2020 environment shaped by “racial reckoning and the COVID-19 pandemic”, which has heightened the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), a lens that Larry says he has operated within since his time in the program. The fellowship prepared him for a world where these values are essential in the public sector, and his understanding of community engagement helps him navigate projects that require deeper connections with the communities affected. He noted that representation in decision-making is vital to ensure equitable outcomes in civic planning. 

Advice for Prospective Students: 

Larry’s key piece of advice is to embrace networking early on and seek out diverse perspectives. He encourages fellows to engage with different demographics and viewpoints when working on projects to ensure that all angles are considered. Larry states, “...while you’re in the program, remember it’s not just about getting from Point A to Point B. In the public sector, it’s about bringing everyone along with you.” Understanding that no decision will make everyone happy, but being open to criticism and feedback from various groups is crucial for success in public service. His overarching message is that “decision-making in the public sector must account for the wide-ranging impacts on people's lives”, and this insight, cultivated during the fellowship, has continued to guide his career.