November 18, 2025
City Manager's Office
DATE: November 18, 2025
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Lashonda White, Deputy City Manager – Community
Services
Yahna Williamson, Management Analyst
SUBJECT:
Update on Black Resiliency Project and Fund
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact to receiving this status update.
City Council approved a total allocation of $1.5 million for (1) the development of a “State of Black Richmond”
consultant and report and (2) to support the
implementation of the Black Resiliency Project and Fund from the Fiscal Year 2025-26 General Fund Budget.
In addition, City staff time is required to support this work.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
June 17, 2025
October 7, 2025
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The City Council approved the creation of the Black
Resiliency Project and Fund in June 2025 to advance
equity and improve outcomes for Richmond’s Black
residents. Since approval, key components necessary for implementation are being developed — establishment of
a City Council/City Staff Ad Hoc Committee and a
Community Advisory Committee (CAC), and the
development of a City website and Request for Proposals (RFP) to produce the State of Black Richmond Report.
This report provides a progress update and outlines
proposed next steps toward implementing these
components.
AGENDA
REPORT
November 18, 2025
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECEIVE an update on the State of Black Richmond
Report and Black Resiliency Fund – City Manager’s
Office (Lashonda White 510-620-6828/Yahna Williamson
510-650-6574).
DISCUSSION:
On June 17, 2025, the City Council approved the Establishment of the Black Resiliency Project and Fund (Fund) to address systemic inequities experienced by Richmond’s Black residents (Attachment 1).
On October 7, 2025, the City Council approved the Establishment of the Black Resiliency Project Ad Hoc Committee (Ad Hoc Committee). The Ad Hoc Committee, composed of Mayor Eduardo Martinez and Councilmember Doria Robinson, was created to collaborate with City staff in guiding the goals, structure, and implementation of the Fund. Its role includes interpreting the original intent of the fund, reviewing the consultant RFP for the State of Black Richmond Report, making recommendations regarding grant fund allocation and accountability, and serving as a liaison between staff, Council, and the community. The first meeting of Ad Hoc Committee occurred on November 6, 2025. The committee will remain active until implementation guidelines are finalized and adopted by City Council—anticipated within six (6) months of its formation, and no later than April 30, 2026.
The Committee will work on a timeline for the other key components of the work, as outlined in this update, and share dates on the City’s Black Resiliency Program webpage.
The table below describes the City Council direction and a brief status update for each item. In addition, the agenda report provides more details about key components necessary to implement the Black Resiliency Project and Fund.
City Council Direction Status Update
Budget Allocation: Allocate $1.5 million to
support the development of a State of Black
Richmond Report and to support the
implementation of a Black Resiliency Project
and Fund to address inequities and
disproportionate impacts experienced by
residents of African descent
The City allocated $1.5 million in the FY
2025-26 budget to begin the work.
City Staff Support: Assign City staff to
support the project’s implementation
Two (2) City staff have been selected to
support this project. Additional City staff
will join the team and support the
Council Ad Hoc Committee, as needed.
Community Advisory Committee (CAC):
Create a community advisory committee to
The composition, roles, and
responsibilities of the CAC are currently
being developed by City staff with
November 18, 2025
oversee the project and propose
programmatic funding recommendations
support from the City Council Ad Hoc
Committee. Updates on the CAC and
application process will be shared on the
City’s Black Resiliency Project webpage
later in November 2025.
Consultant to Support Development of
Report: Hire a consultant to draw on
existing statistics and, if needed, conduct
research to establish vetted baseline data
on the State of Black Richmond.
City staff is working on the components
needed to develop a Request for
Proposals (RFP) to select a consultant to
develop the State of Black Richmond
Report. City staff is also gathering a
repository of internal and external
documents to assist in developing the
Report.
Development of a Fund and Program:
Create a Fund and Program that can
strategically allocate funds to programs and
projects that seek to directly improve one or
more of the negative disproportionate
impacts Richmond’s Black residents
experience. This work will include
opportunities for capacity building to support
and ensure the sustainability and efficacy of
organizations receiving funding and/or
engaging in the work regarding Black
resiliency.
The Fund and Program will not be
developed until the State of Black
Richmond Report is completed and
recommendations are shared with the
Council Ad Hoc Committee, the CAC,
the community and City Council. Based
on the report’s recommendations, City
staff will collaborate with the Ad Hoc
Committee and CAC to develop a
competitive grant program, capacity
building program, etc.
Continued Funding: Seek external funding
from philanthropic and other government
sources to continue the work into future
years
City staff are aware of this direction and
will research grants and other funding
opportunities to continue the work. City
staff can use its existing list of on-call
grant writers to support this effort.
Black Resiliency Fund Development
The Fund will leverage the $1.5 million allocation to build a sustainable, multi-year grant program that strengthens community organizations, encourages collaboration, and attracts additional investment. City staff intend for the Fund to serve as a pathway for long-term capacity building and to align with the City’s broader racial equity work. The Fund will be developed and released after the State of Black Richmond Report is completed.
Community Advisory Committee (CAC)
The CAC will serve as a standing body to ensure the Black Resiliency Project remains community-driven and transparent. The CAC will include 11 members, selected through an open application process and appointed by the Mayor and City Council to ensure
November 18, 2025
diverse geographic, professional, and lived experience representation. Their roles will include:
Review and input on the draft consultant RFP before release Partner with City staff and the consultant during development of the State of Black Richmond Report
Later, collaborate on preliminary grant guidelines for community feedback
To maintain transparency, individuals serving on CAC will not be eligible to receive Black Resiliency Fund grants. These members directly shape the framework and priorities of the Fund and therefore should refrain from applying for funding.
State of Black Richmond Report – Consultant RFP
City staff are considering components necessary to develop a request for Proposals (RFP) for a consultant to produce the State of Black Richmond Report. The City Council Ad Hoc Committee wants the CAC, once appointed, to assist in developing the RFP and selecting the consultant. The consultant will work with both the Ad Hoc Committee and CAC to ensure community perspectives are embedded throughout.
Per City Council direction, the report will compile available data, identify data gaps, and collect missing information to provide a comprehensive understanding of conditions affecting Richmond’s Black residents. The report will also include recommendations on equitable service provision, helping the City assess and improve internal systems and practices. The findings will directly inform the design of the Black Resiliency Fund Grant Program, ensuring future allocations are community-based, data-driven, and equity- focused.
Transparency, Outreach, and Information Sharing
Transparency and community engagement remain core priorities. A dedicated project webpage has been launched to share updates, meeting materials, timelines, and upcoming milestones regarding the Ad Hoc Committee, the Community Advisory Board, the RFP, the State of Black Richmond Report, and the grant program. City staff will also provide regular updates to the City Council at key phases of project development. Additional outreach will ensure residents and community-based organizations are informed and able to participate as the project progresses.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 – City Council Agenda Item Regarding Establishment of the Richmond Black Resiliency Fund (June 17, 2025)