Our Community Engagement and Advocacy Program supports three Regional Groups made up of 200 parents and residents to make Contra Costa County safer, healthier and more equitable for families. Regional Groups in Central, West and East County are empowered to shape public decisions that impact young children and their communities. Participants receive staff support and training on leadership, advocacy, public health, policy change, public speaking and more.

Mission Statement:

To build power and advocacy among underrepresented families with young children for a healthy, safe and equitable Contra Costa.

Community-based Advocacy Efforts:

Park Equity and Community Safety

Currently, the Groups are hard at work improving Contra Costa parks, streets and public policies impacting the health and safety of low-income communities.

After conducting comprehensive assessments of 100 parks in Antioch, Bay Point, Concord, Pittsburg, San Pablo, and Richmond, the Regional Groups found that parks located in lower income communities were disproportionately plagued by inadequate amenities, crime, or unsafe conditions. They took their findings to local city councils and advocated for an equitable investment into the County’s most neglected parks.  To date, the Groups have acquired $15 million in local funding and have renovated 11 priority parks to provide all children with safe, vibrant places to play.

Park Programming and Physical Activity

To increase access to sports and physical activity for low-income children, the Groups have partnered with local cities and provided low programming to thousands of young children. Most programming takes place at our “priority parks” to promote more park use and safety in the most needed parks across the county. We currently hold programming at numerous parks across the county.

Housing Security, Tenant Protections, and Economic Equity

The Regional Groups promote safe, affordable, and healthy housing for all young children and families. The Bay Area housing crisis has had a devastating impact on Contra Costa families, resulting in displacement, unsafe living conditions, homelessness, and housing insecurity. To protect families, communities, and the rich diversity of Contra Costa, tenant protections and equitable, affordable housing is critical. The Regional Groups currently work with local decision makers to ensure all Contra Costa young children and families have a safe, healthy and affordable place to call home. To date, the Regional Groups have passed 14 local and state tenant protections for renting families.

Read our “The Housing Crisis Hits Home in Concord” report published in 2018.

Read our “Antioch CHANGE” report published in 2022

Equitable Representation

The Regional Groups work toward equitable representation by building community power, engaging voter and changing public decision-making systems.  In the past 2 election cycles, Regional Groups have reached over 30,000 households to inform and increase voting among underrepresented families with young children. Regional Groups also engaged over 6,500 families to be counted in Census 2020.

Read our “We Count, We Vote” report published in 2021.

Racial and Immigrant Justice

The Regional Groups advance immigrant and racial equity by advocating for inclusion, safety, prosperity, representation, and well-being of families disproportionately impacted by racism, immigrant scapegoating and economic instability. Regional Group advocacy has led to sanctuary cities and school districts countywide and important statewide policies for expanded labor protections, health care, police accountability and immigrant protections.

Safe and Complete Streets for Children

The Groups’ advocacy for safer streets has resulted in nearly $15 million in federal grants and local investments to make streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists on heavily trafficked streets in low-income neighborhoods in Concord and San Pablo.

Community Organizing and Leadership Development

The Regional Groups are a strong community-led voice for young children across the County. They partner with 8 cities, serve on 6 collaboratives and invest thousands of volunteer advocacy hours annually to promote health equity, social justice, community voice, and optimal childhood development.

Click on the links below to learn more about each Regional Group.