Economic Justice

ECONOMIC ACTION TEAM

Health & Racial Equity Outcome

Adults facing barriers to employment in Richmond have additional career pathways and improve the quality of life for other residents through urban planning.The 3 areas of work – building a health career pathway specifically for youth facing structural barriers , changing the narrative about Richmond and its community’s potential, and resident-led power building strategies to build lasting equity into city and county policies connected to future housing development & increasing jobs that provide livable wages. The team strikes a unique balance between the concrete tasks of solving economic problems within Richmond, while also stretching to think about how the arts, story telling, and uplifting community culture change the narrative of our community.

The Economic Revitalization Action Team launched in June of 2014 with over 20 partners at the table.

The Team decided to focus on three priority changes outlined in the community-developed Healthy Richmond logic model which include:

Residents build their capacity and financial stability, and take advantage of employment and other economic opportunities;
Richmond creates an employment and business environment that brings growth and economic vitality to the region;
Residents have coordinated, integrated programs that build family economic stability, employment potential and innovative economic alternatives.

Our Economic Justice Action Team collective create and strategize campaigns that create the following Health and Racial Equity Outcomes:

Equitable Policies & Resources – Provide input on City Policies related to workforce development and affordable housing.
Equitable Systems & Services – Establishment of career pathways for 2020 for Richmond residents (and particularly disadvantaged populations in the following fields:

- Health professions – West Contra County Health Partnership (WCCHP)

CAMPAIGNS

Government Alliance for Racial Equity (GARE): Led by the City of Richmond, Healthy Richmond is collaborating with the city to engage leaders in activities to move from community engagement to ownership and incorporate racial equity principles and values in City departmental work such as reducing gentrification and creating more sustainable jobs for local residents.
YPLAN Adult Leadership Program: is based on the belief that adult residents should have continuing opportunities to attain the skills and education needed to earn a livelihood and compete in diverse sectors. The Y-PLAN Adult Project is a community of practice which consists of Students (in this case, Richmond adults between the ages of 24-50 years old), Educational Partners, Facilitators, Project Coordinators, and a Client. Residents serve as the experts consulting with the City as the primary client. Residents have developed racial equity based recommendations for retention of local workers, transportation, and the redevelopment of a historic neighborhood, Nystrom Village.
North Richmond Resident Leadership Team (NR RLT): Building the RLT’s capacity to engage community members and decision makers and advocate on behalf of their community ultimately led to the successful publication and presentation of the North Richmond Quality of Life Plan. The North Richmond RLT is eager to ensure that their Quality of Life Plan can be used as an effective tool going forward and are committed to continue leveraging and growing their power to ensure all future development in North Richmond is “by and for residents.”
R-MAP: is the signature narrative change strategy led by East Bay Center for Performing Arts to Promote a city map that depicts assets and places of beauty for Richmond and North Richmond children and families is sustained in print and on-line platforms.

Here’s some of our current partners!