President’s Circle Member Profile: Christopher Brown

A beaming force of passion and purpose, President’s Circle member Christopher Brown has been a long-time advocate for social justice, environmental conservation, and community building. Christopher grew up in the Bay Area in Northern California during a time of change, when cultural and political values were shifting. As a third-generation Oaklander, Christopher was influenced by the economic and population booms of the 1950s and the radical awakenings of the 1960s. “I was a young person growing up next door to the progressive university town of Berkeley, the heartbeat of the nationwide student activist movement, watching the pollution rise, the population explode, and feeling the urgency of change all around me.”

Christopher’s activism was not only informed by the social and political landscape of the Bay Area; it began right at home with his family. His parents were founding members of Oakland’s first Planned Parenthood clinic in the early 1960s. Watching his parents’ involvement in the reproductive rights movement laid the foundation for a lifetime of reproductive health advocacy. “Even as a kid, I remember listening to conversations about how every child should be wanted. That idea stuck with me,” he recalls.

In his adulthood, Christopher made the critical connection between overpopulation, environmental degradation, and health. He is deeply concerned about population overshoot. In 1994, he joined Population Connection because he was inspired by our candid population messaging as an environmental organization — an increasing rarity among US-based environmental groups.

Christopher got his degree in Industrial Arts at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo, where he honed his skills in community building. In his early career at Cal Poly, he taught everything from drafting to woodshop to auto shop and metalworking. But after encountering the challenges inherent in traditional classroom teaching, he pivoted to his true passion: building.

Over the years, Christopher has built a life for which he is immensely grateful. He has built homes, raised two children with his wife, Susan Urquhart-Brown, and makes time for his hobbies: bonding with his quirky cat, Bob, bike riding, and connecting with others through holistic spirituality.

Christopher speaks regularly at multiple churches and online spaces about the significance of personal transformation and interconnectedness. His approach of quiet influence, direct dialogue, and compassion aims to highlight “reverence for the planet and all species, with the understanding that humans are not superior.”

His hope for Population Connection is that we continue to raise awareness about the multi-pronged benefits of family planning services.

“It’s about planting seeds — sharing the bigger picture without shame, especially around contraception and choice. If we don’t cooperate with each other, we’re not going to make it.”

We are extremely grateful to Christopher and Susan for their President’s Circle participation and for their unwavering commitment to promoting harmony among people and the planet. If you would like to learn more about our giving societies, contact our Development team at giving@popconnect.org.