Black Excellence Group Coalition in Richmond, Ca. Applies for Contra Costa County Funding

On October 1st, Thursday evening, the Black Excellence Group Coalition held its weekly meeting at the Co-Biz building at 1503 MacDonald Avenue in Richmond. The BEGC is dedicated to helping Richmond residents build infrastructure such as education, employment, housing, and health and wellness with the pending Chevron monies of 550 million dollars to the City of Richmond.

Chevron would like to see the money distributed into the community to provide resources and infrastructure to help low-income neighborhoods and families in need.

However, the Richmond Progressive Alliance City Council wants to put the 550 million dollars into the General Fund.

BEGC invited our local Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia to be the guest speaker. Antwon Cloird Founder and Director of the Black Excellence Group Coalition said: "I was so happy that John Gioia came to speak to us at tonight's meeting. He discussed that one million dollars in County funding is available to improve equity and close health and economic disparities in Richmond and West County.”

Gioia said the “the Black Excellence Group Coalition could obtain some of those funds to bring services to our community such as education, employment, housing, and health and wellness."

Gioia went on to say that both he and the late County Supervisor Federal Glover created the Contra Costa County Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice in 2020. The Office was established to address equity concerns and racial injustices within the County.

Since the death of Supervisor Glover, County Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston from District-5 is working with Gioia to develop a sustainable source of funding to support health and wellness services to African American residents in West County.

Gioia asked the BEG Coalition at the meeting: "How would you spend one million dollars to promote equity and address economic and health disparities in Richmond and West County?"

He said the County Board of Supervisors had allocated five million dollars to launch a Contra Costa Community Impact Fund with one million dollars to be spent in each Supervisor's District. Gioia noted: "I want to hear from West County residents at a series of 5 townhall meetings that my office is holding.”

He noted that the remaining townhall meetings would be held at the following locations: October 6 at 1 pm at the RYSE Center, 3939 Bissell Avenue, Richmond; and October 9 at 6pm at the San Pablo City Hall, 1000 Gateway Avenue, San Pablo.

According to BEG Coalition Board member Bonnie Jackson: " We have all come together to help serve those that have been overlooked or neglected."

Clorid said: " This is such a wonderful opportunity and role that the BEG Coalition can fulfill to serve the residents of West County in their time of need. We can truly help to make a big difference."

Board Member Monique McMorris noted: " Tonight's meeting was both enlightening and hopeful. I was offered a renewed sense of direction and unity."

Fellow Board Member Marcus L. Smith shared: "I believe this funding would offer a really good opportunity to the residents of West Contra Costa."