The COVID-19 pandemic has given many workers, especially those working remotely for the first time in their careers, a chance to look at their lives from a fresh perspective in what some are calling the “Great Reassessment.” For Rubicon Career Advisor John Cunningham, he saw an opportunity for growth.

“Working from home and the pandemic had me rethinking what I was going to do with all of this time I was going to have,” Cunningham said. “I saw the 8 minute and 46 second video of George Floyd, and I felt kind of helpless because I saw that being myself or one of my children. And I just kept hearing all of this rhetoric around how these types of things continue to happen and have historically been a part of the narrative between policing and black men and women and people of color in general in America, and I was like, ‘Man, I need to do something, I can’t just sit here and not do anything.’”

After consulting with people in his network, Cunningham received a recommendation from Pat Mims, Director of the Reentry Success Center, to connect with Project Rebound. Their support led Cunningham to enroll in a summer math camp, where he was the only student from the initial cohort who stayed through the entire series of classes.

The experience added to his desire to learn more. “I think it really showed me that I had the ability to accomplish things in an educational setting that I had never accomplished before, and it gave me a lot of confidence,” Cunningham said. “So I decided to give it a shot and go for a degree.”

Cunningham enrolled in classes at San Francisco State University (SFSU) and immediately began looking for ways to apply his learning outside of the classroom. He participated in the SFSU President’s Leadership Fellows Program, where he enhanced and added to the job-readiness skills he uses to support Rubicon participants in his role as a Career Advisor. He then set his sights on the Willie L. Brown, Jr. Fellowship. After a rigorous application and selection process, he was selected to participate as one of ten fellows for the Fall 2021 semester.

“I was interested in continuing the work I do with Rubicon, but expanding that into an understanding of how legislation and policies are created,” Cunningham said. “Seeing the whole process from beginning to end, reading these reports and seeing these recommendations and how they put all of this together to make legislation out of it—that’s the part that’s beneficial to me. It takes me out of the hands on and gives me a behind-the-veil experience on how government comes to some of the decisions that they come to.”

As a Willie L. Brown, Jr. Fellow, Cunningham works directly in government as an intern for Shamann Walton, President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Cunningham participates in three primary focus areas in this role: closure of the San Francisco juvenile hall, a project that will be finalized in December; the African American Reparations Advisory Committee, a group created by the Board of Supervisors that is assessing what reparations could look like for the city; and the Racial Equity Task Force, which looks at spaces in the city to ensure that people are treated equitably.

For Cunningham, the opportunity to create systemic change is one that he encourages others to join in. “Being formerly incarcerated myself, I love to see those systems of oppression dismantled and destroyed,” Cunningham said. “The one thing I would tell people is that they always have a section in every open meeting to the public where you can make comments. So many people do not take advantage to express their disagreement or support for whatever these committees are doing. The people who are going to be affected by the decisions do have a voice in the process, but we don’t take advantage of it.”

After his fellowship ends next month, Cunningham is looking forward to pursuing his degree in Race and Resistance Studies from SFSU while continuing his work with Rubicon. “Honestly, the degree is great,” Cunningham said. “But as I was going through the first semester, I realized that the degree—the piece of paper—was not really that important to me. Obtaining the knowledge and allowing me to network and be in spaces where I would be effective is what matters.”

As part of the organization’s commitment to supporting staff members’ well-being, Rubicon Programs recently hosted its annual Wellness Fair for employees company-wide. The event took place over three afternoons on October 13-15 and included both online and in-person activities.

Rubicon’s Recruitment and Engagement Specialist Adriana Ponce-Matteucci led the efforts to plan and organize the event, from the initial conceptual stage all the way through hosting the closing activity. “Making time for yourself isn’t selfish or a waste of time, it’s an investment in yourself,” Ponce-Matteucci said. “We get very wrapped up in our work, which is important, but we focus on everything else around us: family, work, kids. It’s also important to say, ‘My health matters’ and to take time to invest in yourself.”

Over 30 live events were scheduled during the course of the Wellness Fair, the most highly attended being the closing event virtual standup show with Comedy Oakland. For the second time in the fair’s nine-year history, some of the events were available in Spanish to be more inclusive of the organization’s diverse workforce. In addition to the live events, participants could schedule one-on-one appointments with vendors from the healthcare, fitness, finance, and insurance industries.

The event was organized by a Wellness Fair Planning Committee made up of eight Rubicon Staff from different departments and locations. The Committee worked together for three months to make sure a variety of activities for all interests and abilities would be available at the event.

Wellness Coach Kellisha Moore decided to join the Committee to help emphasize the value of focusing on wellness. “I think that it is extremely important to prioritize our wellness and cultivate an active mindset of peace,” Moore said.

In addition to attending the Wellness Fair itself, joining the Planning Committee was a way for some staff members to enhance their professional development. WIOA Career Coach Mayra Corral was excited to be offered the opportunity to contribute as a Committee member. “I joined because I wanted to be involved with the organization outside of my role in Rubicon,” Corral said. “I'm a planner and like to plan parties, dinners, and outings outside of work. When I was presented with the opportunity to do it for work, I signed up as soon as I could.”

Ponce-Matteucci is proud of the work that the Planning Committee did to bring the Wellness Fair to the organization while still following COVID-19 safety measures. “Even though the way we have to work has changed, our values and what we want to give to employees didn’t change,” Ponce-Matteucci said. “I think it’s pretty awesome that we could continue the Wellness Fair and find a way to adapt it during some of the most difficult times that some of us have ever experienced.”

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIF., OCTOBER 7, 2021 … The Contra Costa County Measure X Community Advisory Board (CAB) voted last evening to accept a report listing first-year recommended funding priorities for submission to the Board of Supervisors. The list contains five goal areas supported by 43 strategies, many of which are aligned with Rubicon’s comprehensive programs.

Community-based services—including those that Rubicon provides such as mental health support, training and employment, and reentry support—are prioritized strategies in all of the goal areas highlighted in the report. The strategies were each rated as a top priority by at least 51% of voting board members at the September 8, 2021 meeting.

Michelle Stewart, District 5 CAB member and the Antioch Site Manager for Rubicon Programs, says the decisions on how to prioritize the funding recommendations were challenging. “It was really tough, because we had a bumper crop of presentations from numerous people, and it’s very difficult to make these kinds of decisions because everything is important,” Stewart said. “Do you prioritize seniors over children? Do you prioritize a lab for the regional hospital over mental health services? Do you prioritize housing over transportation? It’s all important, and it makes a difference in the quality of life for people and their ability to survive.”

In order to ensure that the CAB heard a sufficient variety of voices in the discussions, a total of 94 subject matter experts, including five from Rubicon, presented on a variety of community needs, issues, and topics during CAB meetings that were held over four months. Members of the public also gave their input by writing in and attending meetings, with some community members appearing at the virtual meetings nearly every week.

Although public attendance at the meetings grew over time, Stewart thinks there are more residents to hear. “We did get a lot of public comments, but we could get a lot more,” Stewart said. “I would have liked to have seen more residents participate and make comments about what is needed in their communities, in their neighborhoods, and what are their concerns.”

The recommendations in the report are not tied to specific dollar amounts. Instead, the CAB assigned rankings to each strategy to help the Board of Supervisors understand the priority levels to determine funding allocations. The rankings are based on the relative popularity of each strategy based on the September 8 vote, with community-based mental health services, establishing a County Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice, expanded comprehensive healthcare for the uninsured, and tenant legal services among the top ten.

Stewart cautions residents not to get discouraged if they don’t see their priorities at the top of the list. “This is just the first year. Just because you weren’t prioritized now doesn’t make you not a priority,” Stewart said. “We’re going to make our recommendations in the next couple of weeks, we’ll have a few weeks off, and then we’re right back at it. So just continue showing up.”

According to the report, Measure X is a countywide, voter-approved half cent tax that is intended “to keep Contra Costa’s regional hospital open and staffed; fund community health centers, emergency response; support crucial safety-net services; invest in early childhood services; protect vulnerable populations; and for other essential county services.” The CAB was established in February 2021 and is made up of 17 members—10 supervisorial district appointees and 7 at-large members—who serve two-year terms with a maximum limit of six years total. The CAB currently meets Wednesdays at 5:00 pm on Zoom.

Rudy Howell, Impact Coach at the Rubicon Education Partnership (REP), was approved as the newest commissioner on the Oakland Police Commission (OPC) at last Tuesday's city council meeting. Howell will become the third justice-impacted community member to sit on the OPC since its establishment in 2016. 

"My initial motivation was just trying to be involved in the community," Howell said. "I just wanted to be able to explain my position as somebody impacted by a lot of these laws and policies that seem to really target minority communities. A lot of times, people who create policies don't know how they impact people. They're not really affected by certain policies because they're somewhat removed from the situations they're making the rules for." 

In his role on the OPC, Howell will be tasked with reviewing and proposing changes to the Oakland Police Department's policies and procedures related to police use of force, profiling, and right to assemble, among other responsibilities outlined in the city's charter.  

Howell's focus on civic engagement will play a key part in his work on the OPC. "I think it's important that the way gets paved for formerly incarcerated people to engage civically," Howell said. "Oakland is a very important place for as far as civil rights. There's been a lot of movement in Oakland about being equitable and having a fair shake. It's not enough to talk about it; let's be about it. Let's put in the work, and let's make policies that help everybody." 

In his position at REP, Howell connects justice-impacted individuals with resources to advance their education and obtain college degrees. "My role with Rubicon is to strengthen the community with education," Howell said. "Education is not a short-term endeavor. It's a long-term investment of mind, body, and soul. It's all about the community and improving the community. The Police Commission's work is also about improving communities." 

While he was incarcerated, Howell received his A.A. in Business Administration from Lassen College and was accepted into San Francisco State University, where he began taking classes immediately upon his release. He earned a B.A. in Criminal Justice in 2016 before joining Rubicon Programs as an Impact Coach. 

Despite his success in college, Howell acknowledges that studying the justice system is not a substitute for life experience. "No book will teach any criminal justice major the impact of these policies," Howell said. "I think I'm able to articulate the impact of certain policies that are in place. Let's revise those to make it more equitable for everybody in the community." 

The process to join the OPC began in April, when Howell first applied for the role that he will take over next month. In addition to the initial application, the selection process consisted of a public statement at an OPC Selection Panel meeting, interviews with the OPC Selection Panel, background and reference checks, and a final review and approval by the Oakland City Council. Commissioners on the OPC serve three-year terms and can be selected for up to two consecutive terms.  

As the Bay Area continues to gradually reopen with restrictions, Rubicon Programs and the San Lorenzo Adult School are teaming up with a group of over 30 community partners to host the Welcome Back Outdoor Resource/Job Fair on October 5. This is the first event of its kind at the school since late 2019.

“This pandemic has isolated people, and it’s prevented them from reaching out for help, for whatever reason,” San Lorenzo Adult School Principal Sharita Williams said. “I want to start to help break down that isolation in the community.”

Rubicon staff will be on site to connect attendees with the organization’s resources. In addition to engaging the community with Rubicon’s core programs and supportive services, staff will have information about COVID-19 relief grants and unique work opportunities available because of pandemic funding.

In addition to Rubicon, at least 33 confirmed vendors, many with job openings they are looking to fill, will be at the event. Diane Jesus, Workforce Development Navigator for Rubicon Programs, sees the event as a way to inspire participants who have struggled through the pandemic. “We are coming together to give hope to the community that has been in a pandemic for the past 18 months,” Jesus said. “I feel that our community needs empowerment and hope, and we are all coming together to let them know that there are valuable resources out here, and there are a lot of employers willing to hire.”

Other community-based organizations will also be on site to connect attendees with resources. Among them will be El Shaddai Ministries from San Lorenzo, whose volunteers will be distributing 80 to 100 nonperishable food boxes. Information about COVID-19 vaccinations and testing will also be available to all attendees, and a number of vendors will conduct giveaways throughout the event.

Trish Jetson, Transition Specialist for San Lorenzo Adult School, wants the event to show people that there are resources available for them in their own neighborhoods. “We are opening our doors for in-person lessons for the first time since we closed for the pandemic in March of 2020,” Jetson said. “Sometimes people don’t know that they are living around a valuable resource, and that’s what I know this school is.”

The fair is free and open to the public. Precautions are being taken to ensure that the outdoor event remains safe for attendees, including expanded space between vendors, a mask requirement for all on site, and low-touch activities to reduce contact with communal surfaces.

Rubicon Programs and San Lorenzo Adult School have collaborated together for the past eight years to bolster one another’s services for the community. The two agencies work in partnership to provide job skills training and employment resources to students and community members, among other services.

San Lorenzo Adult School offers a variety of free classes for the community, including a high school diploma program, and courses in Adult Basic Education/GED prep, English as a second language, computer skills, discussion and conversation skills, sewing, fashion design, and more. “We want people to know that we are here and open for the community,” Williams said. “We have a lot of free classes and resources that we can provide, and we want people to know that we are here for them.”

For questions or to get your organization involved in the event, contact Diane Jesus at dianej@rubiconprograms.org.