Healthy Richmond

What is Healthy Richmond

The California Endowment (TCE), a statewide health foundation, is offering North Richmond and Iron Triangle residents, community leaders, leaders of community-based organizations and public agencies, and other stakeholders an unusual opportunity to work together to create a 10-year plan to build a healthier community.

What is Healthy Richmond?

It is one of 14 community efforts in California selected by TCE to improve health systems and address physical, social, and economic issues in order to support healthy living and healthy behavior. The goal is to achieve lasting changes in the health of children and youth. Over the next 10 years, residents, community leaders and others in Richmond will work to accomplish 10 outcomes in two neighborhoods (North Richmond and Iron Triangle) that address health care, prevention, violence, youth development, the community environment, health gaps for men and boys of color and more. (A complete list of outcomes is online at www.HealthyRichmond.net or by calling 510-234-5624 *8 x22.)

Why was Richmond chosen?

TCE selected communities that were impacted by deep poverty and poor health outcomes, and yet have the potential to develop into communities that can be modeled, replicated and inspire policy changes to create a healthy environment for all Californians. TCE identified Richmond as a community with the leadership and capacity to realize the Building Healthy Communities vision.

What’s happened?

In mid-March 2009, TCE invited representatives of organizations to participate in a pre-planning effort to create one coordinated proposal and transparent process for a nine-month planning initiative to begin June 1, 2009 (A list of organizations involved in the pre-planning is available at www.HealthyRichmond.net). As applicant agency, The East Bay Center for the Performing Arts (EBCPA) submitted a proposal on May 1st and received funding from TCE for the nine-month planning process and will allocate funds to facilitators and consultants to help guide the planning process. EBCPA’s role will be mostly administrative.

What will the proposal cover?

The Healthy Richmondproposal is the framework for the nine-month planning process from June 1, 2009 to February 28, 2010. It describes specific ways residents and local organizations can participate; outlines how to decide what geographic boundaries will be the focus for the 10-year effort (TCE tentatively identified North Richmond and the Iron Triangle); provides principles for how decisions will be made and conflicts resolved; and includes a workplan for developing ideas to achieve the 10 outcomes.

What happens later?

At the end of the non-month planning process during which input from residents, community groups and other stakeholders will be gathered and analyzed, a 10-year plan will be submitted to TCE addressing each of the 10 outcomes. TCE will then make grants directly to qualifying nonprofit organizations and others based on the plan. Being involved in the planning process has no impact on receiving that funding. The plan could also be used to seek additional funding.

How can someone get involved?

There are many opportunities for everyone in the community to get involved and be heard! To make this 10-year effort successful, all residents and community groups, local leaders, businesses, community-based organizations and others are strongly encouraged to get involved. There are many levels of engagement including opportunities to participate in focused discussions among residents, stakeholders, and community advocates to provide valuable input to accomplish the 10 outcomes. Interested individuals may also serve on a 20 member Steering Committee whose mission is to uphold, preserve, and oversee the principles and goals of the planning effort.

E-mail: [email protected]
Copyright © 2009 Healthy Richmond c/o East Bay Center for the Performing Arts 339 11th Street, Richmond, CA 94801