At Rubicon, we understand that participants are why we’re here, and we want the participant voice to be deeply involved in our decision-making process. One way we’re tapping into and developing the participant voice is the Participant Advisory Board (PAB). The PAB is an organized group of Rubicon participants with the purpose of enhancing Rubicon’s services and our community. The PAB was just a model on paper until October of 2018, when Alisha Semplar joined Rubicon as our Community Connections Program Manager. Thanks to Alisha’s desire to “put the rubber to the road,” the PAB soon shifted from theory into reality.

Alisha says she “sees the diamonds in every participant” and desires to bring out “their shine” for all to see. In launching the PAB, she sought for it to help participants build their self-efficacy through leadership development and active involvement in helping their community. Alisha loves to see how the PAB. “creates leaders and change agents.” “PAB members are leaders in their communities and drivers of change that are constructing a pathway to success to break the cycle of poverty,” Alisha proudly proclaims. Alisha occasionally helps organize and facilitate PAB procedures, but the PAB is mostly run by the participants themselves.

Alisha feels the PAB “creates a conduit” for Rubicon participants to develop their leadership skills, grow their personal networks, and contribute to making changes that will help their community. The PAB meets once a month, where members vote on action items to determine which ones resonate most with their desired community impact. Examples of PAB action items of the past include creating a voter guide, partnering with Healthy Richmond, working with The Safe Return Project, and contributing to the Contra Costa County’s Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice. PAB members also sit on various public committees to help guide the work and provide a voice for their community.

The PAB is also involved in civic activities, including making recommendations for legislative items affecting the community, such as housing and environmental laws. “These are issues directly affecting PAB members' lives, and we know some communities are disproportionately impacted, so the PAB voice is vital”, Alisha says. Alisha adds that discussions at PAB meetings “are guided by the temperature of society,” meaning whatever issues are relevant to the members are those discussed. But they’re not only discussed; the PAB is focused on creating solutions and “taking actions to better the communities directly impacted,” states Alisha.

PAB members are also heavily involved in the structure of Rubicon. PAB members are asked to be a part of interview panels for potential Rubicon employees. Rubicon wants to get the participant perspective on potential hires, so PAB member feedback is invaluable. Some PAB members are also involved in the Program Implementation Committee (PIC), which is composed of program directors and managers. The PIC evaluates and updates Rubicon’s practices and model; similar to the interviews, PAB members' input is critical.

When recruiting new participants for PAB, Alisha mentions that PAB members share a strong desire for social action and change in their community. PAB members are focused on improving the lives of their fellow community members while at the same time experiencing their own personal growth. Alisha emphasizes that "PAB empowers participants to be the change that they are seeking.”