Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Veterans-Banner-Program-Ad

Pinole Valley High senior Jermaine Gitana is 2021 Contra Costa County Poetry Out Loud Champion

By Leave a Comment

2021 Contra Costa County Poetry Out Loud Champion Jermaine Gitana. Graphic: AC5.org

Student from Deer Valley High in Antioch places second, San Ramon Valley High student places third

The Arts and Culture Commission is excited to announce Jermaine Gitana from Pinole Valley High School as our 2021 Poetry Out Loud Contra Costa County Champion! On February 11th, we held a Facebook Live Virtual Screening and Awards Ceremony. He was awarded a $200 cash prize and varsity jacket. (See his introduction and winning performance at approximately the 20:35 mark of the competition video)

Esmeralda Noyola from Deer Valley High School (Antioch) won second place and was awarded a $150 prize. Tessa Brubaker from San Ramon Valley High School took third place and was awarded a $100 prize. The County Finals included impressive high school champions Patricia May Villanueva of Prospects High School (Antioch), Michael Miralles of John Henry High School (Richmond), Kyla Erika Nano of Concord High School, and Kaleigh Thurman of College Park High School (Pleasant Hill).

“I am a 17-year-old senior at Pinole Valley High who is part Black and Filipino,” said Gitana. “I enjoy playing instruments, making music, swimming, singing, and most of all reciting poetry.”

His performances of the poems Written By Himself by Gregory Pardlo and Piano by D. H. Lawrence proved to be a winning combination! On March 11th, Jermaine will compete in the Poetry Out Loud State Finals where students recite 3 poems. On March 12th, the California State Winner will be announced on California Arts Council email, internet, and social media. We are very proud of Jermaine!

Jermaine Gitana performance screenshot.

Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. Poetry Out Loud provides free curriculum materials—all available online—including a poetry anthology, a comprehensive teacher’s guide, videos of student performances, lesson plans, and promotional and media resources.

Schools with students in the 2021 CCC finals.

All Contra Costa County high school students, grades 9-12, are invited to enter Poetry Out Loud. School winners advance to the County competition each February, then the State competition in March, and ultimately to the National Finals. The 2021 POL National Semifinals will take place on Sunday, May 2nd and the 2021 POL National Finals will take place on Thursday, May 27th and will be held virtually in lieu of holding them on-site in Washington D.C. as previously planned. Both will be video submission-based competitions and will be streamed on arts.gov.

Every Contra Costa County high school (public, private, parochial, independent, alternative, continuation, court, charter and home schools), non-profit organizations, and libraries are encouraged to participate. Students don’t enter the POL competition directly, but through their high schools or a school POL liaison such as a teacher, librarian, school staff, or organization member.

“Last August, I became the new Managing Director and was first introduced to the amazing Poetry Out Loud program,” said Jenny Balisle, Arts and Culture Commission of Contra Costa County Managing Director. “Our incredible team of Donté Clark (Poetry Out Loud Coordinator), Brennan DeFrisco (Poetry Out Loud Student Coach and Assistant Coordinator), and Antonio Tamayo (Poetry Out Loud Digital Content and Technical Assistant) worked together to transition the program online. The Virtual Screening and Awards Ceremony was an evening of many firsts for the Arts and Culture Commission: first Facebook Live event for a signature art program, first ASL interpreters for a live virtual event, and first Land Acknowledgement. Despite the pandemic, we were determined to uplift, support, and celebrate Contra Costa County youth! I’m proud of what we accomplished but most of all- very proud of the resilience and grace of our youth.”

To watch all the competitors in the Virtual Screening and Awards Ceremony please visit here.

Poetry Out Loud is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Foundation, California Arts Council, and Arts and Culture Commission of Contra Costa County (AC5).

AC5 is dedicated to advancing the arts in a way that promotes communication, education, appreciation and collaboration throughout Contra Costa County so that we may grow creatively as a community that preserves and celebrates our diverse cultural expression.

Please visit www.ac5.org for more information and sign up on our email list. We welcome your participation and hope to see you next year!

Lift Up Richmond coalition strongly opposes Mayor Butt’s budget proposal

By Leave a Comment

Saying “Richmond’s residents deserve better”, community and labor groups united in the Lift Up Richmond coalition reject Mayor Tom Butt’s consultant’s budget proposal as vague, misguided, anti-democratic, and bad for Richmond’s residents

Richmond, California – Consultant group Management Partners is scheduled to present a set of so-called budget guidelines at Richmond’s City Council meeting on Tuesday, February 23: the Lift Up Richmond coalition of community and labor groups is demanding these guidelines be scrapped and calling on the Mayor to start the process of creating a fiscal policy from scratch, this time, beginning with input from the community, including City Council, labor unions, small businesses, and community organizations.

The proposal prioritizes cutting City spending and building up reserve fund balances, a year into a global health and economic crisis that has killed millions and put countless people out of work. Developed without collaboration with Richmond’s City Council, small businesses, community members, and labor organizations, the policies are vague, leaving terms like “significant” completely undefined, and where the policies are clear, they are poor, such as giving the City Manager blanket authority to make cuts, and leaving City Council powerless to invest in much-needed services for Richmond residents.

According to Ballotpedia, Richmond voters overwhelmingly approved Measure U in November, “authorizing a business tax of 0.06% to 5% of gross receipts, with higher rates being assigned to marijuana businesses, firearm businesses and big businesses, generating an estimated $9.5 million per year for city services including emergency response, street repair, homeless services and youth services.”

“Budgets are not just numbers in a spreadsheet,” said Gregory Everetts, a Parks and Landscape Division worker with the City of Richmond and president of the Richmond chapter of SEIU Local 1021, “Budgets show what our values really are. The City of Richmond needs a fiscal policy, but the residents of Richmond need that policy to reflect their needs, not just the administration’s desire to fatten up the reserve fund while the people of Richmond are suffering. Richmond’s residents deserve better than this.”

The undersigned individuals and organizations call on City Council to reject this proposal and begin crafting a common-sense fiscal policy that puts services for residents first, over building up reserve funds, and is built collaboratively, inclusively, and transparently, with input from the community members with a stake in Richmond’s budget and the values it puts into action.

The Lift Up Richmond coalition is made up of Richmond community and labor groups, including ACCE Action, APEN, IFPTE Local 21, the Richmond Progressive Alliance, RYSE, and SEIU Local 1021.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Firefighter, paramedic injured in drive-by shooting in Antioch Saturday night, suspect from Stockton caught in Richmond

By Leave a Comment

Both first responders in stable condition with non-life-threatening wounds; ambulance and police car also struck by gunfire; incident under investigation

By Lt. John Fortner, Investigations Bureau, Antioch Police Department & Steve Hill, Public Information Officer, ConFire

On Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at approximately 8:51 PM, Antioch police officers were called to the 1900 block of Auto Center Drive on the report of a citizen requiring emergency medical attention. A fire engine from Contra Costa County Consolidated Fire Protection District (Con Fire), and an ambulance from Contra Costa American Medical Response (AMR) also responded to the medical call.

While tending to the patient in the parking lot near Auto Center Drive, a suspect in a silver SUV drove by the team of first responders and began shooting at the group. Afterwards, the suspect turned around and drove past the group again firing a second series of shots. A 31-year-old male Con Fire firefighter and a 58-year-old male AMR ambulance transport Alliance paramedic were caught in the crossfire of a drive-by shooting while responding to a serious medical emergency in Antioch Saturday night.

Shots were reported at 9:08 p.m. shortly after firefighters and paramedics arrived on scene. Both first responders and the original medical call patient were transported to local area hospitals at approximately 9:30 p.m.  The firefighter was shot in the foot and the paramedic was shot in the leg and their injuries were determined to be non-life threatening. An ambulance and a police car were also struck by gunfire.

Several Antioch officers gave chase onto Highway 4 as the suspect vehicle fled westbound towards the City of Pittsburg. The vehicle pursuit traveled through Contra Costa and Alameda Counties and ended in the City of Richmond after the suspect vehicle collided with a parked vehicle. The suspect attempted to flee from the scene of the collision, but he was quickly taken into custody by officers from Richmond PD and the California Highway Patrol. The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Air Support Unit also provided critical assistance. A firearm was collected at the scene.

“Tonight’s senseless shootings are a vivid reminder of the very real dangers our first responders face, often side-by-side with our law enforcement partners, as they work to save lives across our communities,” said Lewis T. Broschard III, fire chief, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. “We are grateful for the public outpouring of support for our wounded firefighter and AMR paramedic and for the work of law enforcement across the Bay Area to bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice.”

“As representatives of our firefighters, and in support of the police and EMS personnel we respond with on a daily basis, we are grateful to report both first responders injured in tonight’s shooting incident are expected to make full recoveries,” said Vince Wells, president, United Professional Firefighters of Contra Costa County. “I would like to thank the members of the community of Antioch and beyond for your words of concern and support regarding those injured in tonight’s incident. We expect to learn more as the investigation uncovers more details regarding this incident.”

Antioch Police Department detectives with the Violent Crimes and Special Operations Units responded to the scene, along with crime scene investigators, and took over the investigation. The investigation is still active, and evidence is being collected and evaluated.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441, or Detective Brogdon at (925) 779-6895. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Public’s help needed in search for Richmond teen missing since last Wednesday

By 7 Comments

 

Multiple agencies assist, $10,000 reward offered

By Richmond Police Department

Antoine Whittley

On Wednesday, February 10th just prior to 8:30 pm, 17-year-old Antoine Whittley was visiting a friend’s house in the 300 block of Marina Way South. He obtained a ride share to return home in the Point Richmond area. Approximately ten minutes after being picked up by the ride share driver, our investigation revealed that Antoine was last seen on the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge. He has not been seen since then.

Antoine is 5’9” and approximately 130 pounds; he was last seen wearing a black Covid-19 mask, hooded Reebok sweatshirt and black/green pants with an orange/green/gray camouflage stripe on both legs. He was carrying a backpack with personal belongings inside of it.

The City of Richmond Police Department is committed to investigating incidents that occur in our city. We ask that any person, who may have any information related to this crime please contact Detective Kris Palma at (510) 621-1276, email him at kpalma@richmondpd.net or they can contact Richmond’s anonymous tip line at (510) 307-T1PS (8177).

Comments have circulated online indicating that Antoine returned home. As of 11:00 am on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2021, Antoine has not been located and RPD is actively seeking information from anyone who may know his whereabouts.

Comments have also been critical of the rideshare driver and his possible involvement with Antoine’s disappearance. Detectives have interviewed the driver and are confident the driver did not have anything to do with his disappearance. Our investigation also shows that Antoine voluntarily left the rideshare vehicle.

Photos by RPD.

The Richmond Police Marine Patrol Unit has been actively searching the vicinity of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge for missing 17-year-old Antione Whittley. Allied agencies, which include the Richmond Fire Department, San Rafael Police Department, San Rafael Fire Department, Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, Marin County Sheriff’s Office, Solano County Sheriff’s Office, CHP Air Support, and the US Coast Guard Air Support have joined in on the search. In a coordinated effort led by Richmond Police Sergeant Joe England, searches of all waterways and shorelines are being conducted. The Solano County Sheriff’s Office has utilized their underwater sonar capabilities in order to search underneath the water. The US Coast Guard and CHP Air Support have been conducting daily fly overs in this vicinity. Richmond Police Officers have also been walking the shorelines and utilizing UAS (Drone) in areas that are hard to get by vessel.

The focus of the search is from the Angel Island area in the SF Bay to the area of East Brothers Island, in the San Pablo Bay. This area is vastly large and numerous miles of shoreline, long wharfs, islands, obstacles in the water, and the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge are being searched on a daily basis. Our goal is to continue daily searches and bring Antione home.

It has not been confirmed if Antione actually went into the water, but Richmond Police Marine Unit want to ensure all areas in the vicinity of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge have and will be checked. We encourage any boaters in this vicinity to be observant and report any activity to the Richmond Police Department or the US Coast Guard.

$10,000 Reward

As the search continues, we are offering a $10,000 reward for information regarding Antoine Whittley’s whereabouts. If you have information, we encourage you to call Detective K. Palma at (510)-621-1276 or email kpalma@richmondpd.net. Thanks for your help in finding Antoine!

 

Man arrested for attempted murder of woman, kidnapping her baby after leaving her on side of Hwy 4 Thursday night

By Leave a Comment

By CCCSheriff.

Good Samaritan took woman to the hospital

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Office of the Contra Costa County Sheriff

On Thursday, February 11, 2021, the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff was notified about an incident that was initially handled by the California Highway Patrol.

Late that evening, the CHP conducted a vehicle stop on eastbound Highway 4. The car took the Center Avenue exit in the City of Martinez.

The CHP officer contacted the driver and noticed there was blood inside the car. There was also a baby in the vehicle.

The driver apparently earlier assaulted the child’s mother who fled the car on the side of Franklin Canyon Road. A good Samaritan took her to the hospital.

The driver is identified as 40-year-old Dathen Michael Rosales of San Jose. He was later booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on the following charges: attempted murder, kidnapping, making criminal threats, inflicting corporal injury and child endangerment. He is being held in lieu of $760,000 bail.

Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600 or through Sheriff’s Office dispatch at (925) 646-2441. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

 

After school Program in a box hosted by Boys & Girls Clubs of Contra Costa

By Leave a Comment

Youth on a program call with staff after receiving their program materials for Sports Week.

Seeks to improve distance learning by launching “Program in a Box” for youth.

This year, Boys & Girls Clubs of Contra Costa, the community’s leading children’s nonprofit, launched their “Program in a Box” service for youth in Contra Costa County.

“Parents have been expressing concerns about the negative impact of distance learning,” said CEO Michael Dunn. “Our solution was to develop a program that requires youth to get hands-on! Our programs have materials delivered weekly to kids’ homes. The kids then complete projects and upload them to a secure website to share with our staff and their friends.”

Program bags below ready for delivery (Sports Week).

Boys & Girls Clubs of Contra Costa’s “Program in a Box” is revolutionary. Kids get program materials delivered DIRECTLY to their homes weekly. These program materials allow for our youth to participate in engaging projects covering STEM, Art, Sports and Cooking.

With this program we’ve found creative ways to help support parents and keep kids social and engaged during these unprecedented times.

“I spoke to a parent recently who started crying because her daughter has been struggling with distance learning, and our home delivered program materials provided a much-needed change of pace,” said Keirstan Faulkner, Director of Programs.

Additionally, staff gets on a weekly ZOOM calls with our youth for live engagement and fun. Our

members also have complete access to videos created by Boys & Girls Club staff members to follow along with the materials in the program boxes.

“This pandemic has been challenging, but we are committed to doing whatever it takes to keep our youth engaged and having fun,” said Dunn. “We are confident that this program will be very beneficial for our youth and families in Contra Costa County as we continue to work around distance learning.”

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Contra Costa has been serving Contra Costa kids at their Martinez and El Sobrante clubhouses since 1956. Today they serve thousands of kids with virtual programming, school supplies and food services programs. Before COVID-19, they served over 250 kids in-person each day at their clubhouse in Martinez and at three school sites throughout West Contra Costa.

For more information about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Contra Costa and their online programming, visit www.bgccontracosta.org. They are also looking for support to run these programs during these difficult times. If you can help, please donate at www.bgccontracosta.org/donate.

Couple charged with murder of their 5-week old baby son in Richmond

By Leave a Comment

Herald file photos. Source: CCCSheriff

By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Office of the District Attorney, Contra Costa County

Yesterday, Tuesday, February 9, 2021, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed murder charges against RayRay Andrederral Darn (35-years-old) and Marilyn Northington (28-years-old) for the death of their five-week old boy. The defendants were also charged with felony child abuse and felony assault on a child causing death. An enhancement was also filed tied to the child abuse charge against the defendants: willful harm causing injury or death. (See related article)

Richmond Police Department investigated the case and presented it to our Office for filing. Homicide Unit Supervisor Derek Butts reviewed the investigation and filed the charges listed above.

In the late evening of February 4, the defendants took their baby to the Kaiser Hospital in Richmond due to the baby not breathing. The couple was staying at the Courtyard Marriott in Richmond. When the couple arrived at the emergency room, the baby was seen by a doctor and the doctor pronounced the baby dead. Visible injuries were seen on the baby, including burn marks on his face and his right leg appeared broken and had been burned. A circular mark was present on the baby’s leg where the burn injury occurred. Additionally, the baby appeared severely malnourished.

A search warrant later executed by the Richmond Police Department found drug paraphernalia in the hotel room, including a meth pipe and two butane lighters.

An autopsy conducted by the Coroner’s Office found the victim had suffered from the following injuries: broken right femur, facial scarring, dehydration and malnourishment, bruising on the top of his right thigh, thermal burns on his nose and right cheek, and thermal burns to his lower part of his body. An internal examination by the Coroner’s Office found internal injuries consisting of seven fractured ribs, bleeding inside his skull and a skull fracture.

Both defendants will appear in Department 1 today at 1:30 p.m. for their arraignment. The bail for each defendant is $2,200,000.

Case information: People v. RayRay Andrederral Darn & Marilyn Northington, Docket Number 02-334044-5

 

Parents arrested for murder, child abuse of 5-week-old infant in Richmond Thursday

By 1 Comment

Source: Vinelink.com

By Richmond Police Department

On Thursday, February 4th at approximately 6:30 pm Richmond Police Department Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call from an employee at the Marriott Courtyard Hotel at 3150 Garrity Way, in Richmond. The information received was a couple rushed out of the hotel with their infant baby telling the employee the child was not breathing and they were going to a hospital.

At 6:55 pm Richmond Communications Center received a phone call from Kaiser Hospital-Richmond stating they had a non-breathing five-week-old infant enter their emergency room. The child was pronounced deceased soon after arriving at the hospital.

Richmond Police officers converged on the hotel and hospital and immediately began an investigation that appeared to be child abuse resulting in death. The child had obvious signs of abuse. The Marriott Courtyard is currently being utilized by Contra Costa County to assist with housing unsheltered members of our community during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Richmond Police Department Homicide Unit was notified and assumed the investigation. Detectives responded to the Police Department to conduct interviews of both parents, they also met with other witnesses that were able to provide helpful information and followed up on other investigative leads to assist in the investigation.

The father, Ray Ray Darn (35-years-old) and mother Marilyn Northington (28-years-old) were ultimately arrested for murder and child abuse causing great bodily injury. The couple had two other small children that were taken into protective custody and turned over to Child Family Services (CFS). This case will be presented to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office early next week for review of criminal charges.

The City of Richmond Police Department is committed to solving crimes that occur in our city. We ask that any person, who may have any information related to this incident please contact Homicide Detective Brian Hoffman at (510) 621-1755, email him at bhoffman@richmondpd.net or they can contact Richmond’s anonymous tip line at (510) 307-T1PS (8177).

Any media inquiries can be directed to Sergeant Aaron Pomeroy at (510) 620-6616 or email at apomeroy@richmondpd.net. RICHMOND POLICE CASE #2021-00001208​​​​

 

Hercules man part of multi-state crew arrested for stealing over $4.5 million of goods from The Home Depot

By Leave a Comment

Some of the stolen merchandise from The Home Depot recovered from Alderete’s truck. Photo: HPD

By Hercules Police Department

On January 29, 2021, at 11:19 am, an officer located a vehicle associated with multiple thefts from The Home Depot throughout the state.

On January 28, 2021, Hercules Officers were alerted of a suspect known throughout the state to steal items from The Home Depot and then make returns on some of the items stolen to make back the money for the purchased item. The Home Depot has been working cases for this suspect for over three years and believes he has stolen over $4.5 million from The Home Depot. Since September of last year, it is confirmed that the suspect had stolen over $500,000 from multiple different Home Depot stores up and down the west coast.

An officer located the suspect vehicle, a 2006 Ford Econoline Van, backed into a 1500 Sycamore Avenue parking stall. Officers waited for the man, identified as Miguel Alderete, age 49 of Hercules and Los Angeles, to return to his vehicle, where he was contacted and detained. His vehicle’s search resulted in approximately $10,000 of stolen merchandise from The Home Depot in the van. The occupants of the van were arrested and transported to jail.

A multi-state organized retail theft crew was apprehended after four years of stealing from The Home Depot. The estimated loss during that time is about $4.5 million. This crew averages about $105,000 per month in thefts.

After eluding multiple agencies, Hercules Police were able to catch the culprits, including a second suspect, identified as Antonio Marquez, age 56 from Southern California, in a shopping center across from The Home Depot. The crew had approximately $10,000 of merchandise in their possession from thefts that day in Tracy, Fairfield and Vallejo.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

 

Kaiser Permanente awards $8.15 million for racial equity across U.S., one grant in Contra Costa

By 3 Comments

Photo courtesy of Kaiser Permanente.

In Northern California, grant funding to three grassroots and nonprofit organizations, including one in Contra Costa County, will address structures and practices that prevent communities of color from achieving good health and well-being

By Kerri Leedy, PR and Media Relations Manager, Kaiser Permanente Northern California 

OAKLAND, CA – On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Kaiser Permanente, the nation’s largest integrated, nonprofit health system, announced it has awarded $8.15 million to support dozens of nonprofit and community-based organizations whose programs address systemic racism and its accompanying trauma on individuals and communities of color. These grants are part of the $25 million commitment Kaiser Permanente announced in June 2020 to promote health equity and break the cycle of racial inequities, injustices, and stresses that lead to poor health outcomes for its members and communities.

“As we reflect on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., I hope Kaiser Permanente is one of many voices plainly saying that there is much, much work still to be done to realize Dr. King’s ideal of an equitable society that guarantees every individual the opportunity to thrive,” said Greg A. Adams, Kaiser Permanente chairman and CEO. “I am encouraged as I see what progress is possible through organization, activism, and advocacy — and I want our support to enable future generations to follow that path to create change.”

This first set of grants, awarded to 39 organizations in eight U.S. states and the District of Columbia, support established national and regional community-based organizations led by people of color, addressing racial and social justice or trauma, including the lifelong impacts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).

In Northern California, a total of $975,000 in grants will help three community-based organizations work to end systemic racism and the resulting trauma experienced by people of color.

“It is fitting that we announce these grants on the day when our nation honors Martin Luther King Jr. and his vision of a just and equitable society,” said Yvette Radford, vice president, Kaiser Permanente Northern California External and Community Affairs. “These investments will support our community partners in organizing, advocating, and advancing policies and practices that foster racial equity and justice, healing, and the opportunity for every individual to thrive.”

The following Northern California organizations will each receive $325,000 over the next 24 months, as part of Kaiser Permanente’s $8.1 million investment:

  • RYSE Inc.: Young people of color in Richmond and West Contra Costa will be engaged in RYSE’s leadership pipeline to build the next generation of leaders grounded in racial and social justice. They will work with adult stakeholders to help shape racially just policies and practices.
  • Faith in Action Network (PICO California): Leveraging its organizing expertise and deep connections with Black faith leaders, congregations and directly impacted communities, PICO will work to dismantle systemic racism, reconstruct public safety systems, and help heal, protect and save Black lives.
  • Public Health Advocates (PHA) in Stockton: Working with youth leaders, PHA will educate students on the impact of trauma, develop a campaign to reduce mental health stigma, and create safe healing and support spaces. PHA will work to address racist policies and practices with bi-weekly education and leadership training of youth to help them understand the relationship between public policy, trauma, and health outcomes. 

“This funding sends a message of hope to our youth that they are critical to this movement and have the power to make positive change,” said Tanice Wallace, program manager for Public Health Advocates’ Faces of Resilience program, which will receive additional funding through Kaiser Permanente’s racial equity grants. “Our program helps young people understand the roots of structural racism, then we offer them tools and the opportunity to work toward racial equity in their communities.”

Among the initiatives funded is a $2 million national partnership with PolicyLink to design and scale racial equity strategies, projects, and campaigns. The core issues PolicyLink addresses include housing justice, water equity and climate resilience, corporate racial equity, and reducing inequality.

“To truly honor Dr. King, we must build a just and fair society where all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. Sadly, due to us not heeding Dr. King’s charge, more than 100 million people — 1 in 3 Americans — still live in or near poverty,” said Michael McAfee, president and CEO of PolicyLink. “Our partnership with Kaiser Permanente will support creating anti-racist practices and policies inside the organization, within Kaiser Permanente’s vast network, and in the broader society. This project will help to ensure that all people in America — particularly those who face the burdens of structural racism — participate in a just society, live in a healthy community of opportunity, and prosper in an equitable economy.”

As part of this partnership, PolicyLink will also play a role in working with organizations receiving grants — convening, engaging, and mobilizing regional grantees to catalyze learning and action communities. Kaiser Permanente and PolicyLink will evaluate the outcomes of funded programs, with input from a panel of national racial justice and trauma experts, to track and measure overall progress. The grants will be distributed through Kaiser Permanente’s fund at the East Bay Community Foundation.

In addition, in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, an estimated 1,700 Kaiser Permanente employees in Northern California took part in the organization’s 17th Annual MLK Day of Service. Due to COVID-19, all volunteering was done safely and virtually. Projects ranged from making calls and writing letters to seniors and others who are isolated by the pandemic to creating blankets, masks, and wellness journals for people in need.

Kaiser Permanente Northern California is also donating a 1,000-square-foot mural to the Black Cultural Zone at Oakland’s Liberation Park where it will soon be permanently installed. Two local Oakland artists created the dynamic and colorful piece of art, which depicts images that reflect the Black community and culture.

About Kaiser Permanente

For 75 years, Kaiser Permanente has been committed to shaping the future of health and health care — and helping our members, patients, and communities experience more healthy years. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Since July 21, 1945, Kaiser Permanente’s mission has been to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.4 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health.