Urban Habitat Program

The Boards and Commissions Leadership Institute (BCLI) trains and supports low-income people of color to serve on local and regional boards and commissions. In 2024, we convened our 16th BCLI cohort with 19 fellows representing various counties throughout the Bay Area. 52% of the 2024 fellows are serving on a commission. We launched a new program to train and support equity champions working inside government departments. We held four introductory workshops with 16 participants. Stepping into Your Leadership: A Learning Lab to Support Public Servants, which had 18 participants, was a more intensive cohort model that included four all day trainings and three webinars. Participants in the Learning Lab had opportunities to practice skills and use tools related to relationship building, strategy development, power analysis, and risk assessment.

Rising Juntos partnered with low-income parents, youth, and seniors to advance racial, economic and health justice in Contra Costa County. Our training program supported hundreds of residents to increase their confidence, leadership skills, and understanding of systemic inequities. Our strategic organizing engaged thousands of families to take collective action towards community priorities. We supported residents to engage with local decision-makers for equitable public investments and policies related to housing stability, quality parks, and access to needed services. Our efforts resulted in the passage of eviction protections in Antioch and stronger community leadership for housing stability countywide.