Empowering African American and Black families in East County and supporting children from womb to classroom
Ready Kids East County is a dedicated effort to center the experiences of African American and Black families to fully support families with young children every step of the way.
Celebrating Connection and Collaboration at the Ready Kids East County Big Table Event
On October 29 more than 65 individuals participated in an incredible evening of community, and collaboration focused on enhancing services for Black and African American families. At the event, families, partners, and community leaders come together for meaningful conversation about culturally affirming practices, effective outreach methods and ways to tailor services to African American families. A special thank you to our guest speaker, Nisaa Kirtman, Ph.D., for her inspiring presentation, Centering Black Families: Building Pathways to Access and Connection. Your insights provided actionable strategies and thoughtful guidance for creating equitable and culturally-centered family engagement.
What’s Next?
We’re excited to keep the momentum going! Join us at our upcoming Ready Kids East County Resource Fair on April 11, 2026 at the Marina Community Center in Pittsburg, where families can connect with local programs, services, and resources to support young children and their caregivers.
Families:
Supporting Our Community and Strengthening Families
We partner with families and organizations in East County to ensure that African American and Black families have access to the necessary resources and support during their early years to thrive.
Strengthening Connections & Building Bridges
First 5 Contra Costa is committed to bringing together local organizations that support Black families with young children in East Contra Costa County and creating clear pathways to help families navigate the critical resources and support needed to help children thrive.
What an incredible day in East County!
A huge thank you to all the families, community partners, and supporters who joined us for the Ready Kids East County Resource Fair on Saturday, April 12. The event brought Black and African American families from East County together for a vibrant day filled with connection, celebration, and community support.
Families had the chance to explore a wide range of valuable resources and services designed for every stage of early childhood development—from pregnancy through Kindergarten. The day was packed with joyful moments—from hands-on activities and engaging resource tables to a live community mural led by the talented Christopher Burch, delicious food from Didi Coco’s, exclusive swag like custom tote bags featuring art by Kya Cook, and limited-edition t-shirts for attendees!
We’d also like to give a special thank you to Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston for her ongoing dedication to uplifting families in East County and championing our Ready Kids efforts. If you were unable to join us, or are looking for more information from the community partners in attendance, we created Ready Kids East County Resource Kit, a go-to guide full of helpful tools from the amazing partners who made the fair so special. Click below to download it.
What else?
Below you’ll find a calendar of upcoming events in East County and links to local organizations and resources focused on supporting African American and Black families. You’ll also find a gallery showcasing how Ready Kids East County is making a difference in our community.
Funding & Support
Our Ready Kids East County efforts are made possible through a strategic public-private partnership that leverages funding from California’s Proposition 10 alongside philanthropic contributions, including from the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation. This combined support enables First 5 Contra Costa to invest in and coordinate impactful programs and services that address disparities and promote equity for Black and African American families in East Contra Costa County.
To learn more about Ready Kids East County, contact Jessica Keener, Program Coordinator, at jkeener@first5coco.org
