23 Jun Healthy Richmond to Celebrate 10 Years of Success

The CC Pulse is a partner in the Healthy Richmond network, which will celebrate a “Decade of Progress” on June 30. (Photo courtesy of Healthy Richmond)

By Michael J. Fitzgerald

Healthy Richmond will celebrate 10 years of success June 30 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with an online event featuring music, free lunches and members’ reflections on the organization.

There will also be games and the opportunity to win prizes.

DJ Roeski will handle the music. Lunch will be available via DoorDash codes.

Besides the online celebration, the organization is using the decade benchmark to launch more good works and projects in the community.

The theme of the event is “Growth in Motion: A Decade of Progress, a Future of Possibilities.”

Jordan Simmons, a key organizer of Healthy Richmond from its inception, says the celebration is also “about gratitude” for all the work provided by people and community organizations who have made Healthy Richmond the success it is.

“We are a value-based coalition,” he said. “Our work now is defining the next phases of what we seek to accomplish.”

The Healthy Richmond Hub advocates for policy changes to increase health equity and racial justice. It does so by bringing together leaders and community-based organizations to develop and implement strategies to achieve those goals.

The staff of Healthy Richmond provides assistance with resources and opportunities for the advocates to be more effective.

That effectiveness has been clearly demonstrated in dozens of projects, including:

— The #OneContraCosta campaign resulted in the county adoption of Contra Costa Cares, a healthcare program for immigrant adults.

— The People not Prisons campaign prevented two jail expansions and helped create the Re-Entry Success Center.

— The Services not Cells campaign led by the Contra Costa County Racial Justice Coalition successfully advocated for the county Racial Justice Task Force and supported efforts to reduce financial burdens on justice-impacted youth and families by eliminating the juvenile fines and fees and sealing fee.

— The Invest in Youth Coalition launched the Kids First Richmond campaign, resulting in the city Department of Children and Youth and a dedicated fund for youth.

— The North Richmond Resident Leadership Team and Leadership Circle designed the Quality of Life Plan to guide community development and youth/education efforts.

— The Raise Up Richmond coalition mobilized residents to negotiate a community benefits agreement with UC Berkeley.

— The Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment and Safe Return Project led efforts to increase justice-promoting investments in affordable housing by supporting rent control and fair chance ordinances as well as conducting community forums addressing displacement and gentrification.

— The Local Control campaign prioritized removing barriers to education equity as well as helping parents advocate for annual policy and funding recommendations. The campaign resulted in more resources for African American parent engagement, foster care youth and a full-service community.

Healthy Richmond’s Simmons says the organization will continue “empowering residents” and seeking ways for agencies and groups to collaborate on a wide range of issues.

Those issues include economic revitalization, healthcare access for the most vulnerable populations, educational equity, community safety and criminal justice reform.

“Wednesday, we will be celebrating how far we have come, how much we have accomplished and what’s ahead,” Simmons said.