Eric Henson was born and raised in Southeast San Diego. His curiosity about the history of old buildings and vacant lots throughout the area was his motivation to pursue the field of urban studies and city planning. After various internships including the San Diego Housing Commission, Port of San Diego, City of San Diego and a two-month term in the City’s Development Services department, he is now a policy advisor for the San Diego City Council District Four office of Council Member Monica Montgomery Steppe.
He received his Master’s degree in City Planning from San Diego State University in 2017, with undergraduate degrees from University of California San Diego in Urban Studies, and Political Science at San Diego City College. He is also a board member of the American Planning Association’s San Diego Chapter and its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion subcommittee. In addition, he currently serves on the board of the San Diego Leadership Alliance.
Another source of Eric’s motivation in civic engagement is he grew up in the Chollas View, a neighborhood across the Interstate-805 freeway from Project New Village’s Mount Hope Community Garden that will become the future Good Food District Headquarters.
