Eric Henson

Position: Policy Advisor, City of San Diego, Council District 4
Hometown: San Diego, CA

Eric Henson developed his passion for community development and city planning after learning land use policies that have environmentally discriminated against historically overlooked communities. Since attending his first community planning group at the age of 19, his interest in planning has led him to volunteer for several community organizations and non-profits in San Diego, such as Project New Village, Mid City Community Action Network, and the Center on Policy initiatives to address issues related to environmental and economic justice, with a focus on food access and the housing, transportation and job centers connection. His of time interning at various government agencies, which include the San Diego Housing Commission, Port of San Diego, and the City of San Diego’s Human Resources and Planning department, furthered his understanding of citizen participation across different levels of government. He received his Master’s Degree in City Planning from San Diego State University in 2017, and holds undergrad degrees from University of California San Diego in Urban Studies, and Political Science at San Diego City College. Appointed in December 2018, as a Policy Advisor for Councilmember Monica Montgomery in the City of San Diego, Council District 4, Eric maintains an asset-based organizing approach by highlighting the existing work and talent of his mentors and fellow community residents and assisting them through the policy processes that should be transparent but are not always delivered clearly to the public.