ONME News Reports Calif. Convening Part 3: Trusted messengers find a piece of heaven in regional convening, but express their real needs for their organizations and groups to operate

By ONME Newswire - Julia Ann Dudley Najieb

Watch ONME News Reports Part 3: The California Connects Regional Convenings, an

In part three of this news story series, CBOs and trusted messengers remark on the changes they look forward to making in their organizations, the assistance from the state, and how available resources will help their communities in California. 

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California’s winning strategy of using the trusted messengers for its California Connects regional convenings was the magic touch; over 300 community leaders, nonprofit groups and organizations, ethnic and community media outlets were the trusted messengers who met in Sacramento, CA, April 23 to get some tools and tips to stay healthy and financially equipped. 

As previously stated by key state and Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications (OCPSC)  administrators, California took the next step to invest in these trusted messengers, who in turn help their niche communities and the greater community throughout California.

Nonprofit groups and organizations serving vulnerable communities say they got an encouraging boost on strategies to keep their organizations going as well as ways to help their communities effectively.

      “Collaboration is the key to success for our region,” said Kevin James, Vice-President of Impact who was attending a Central Valley convening November 18. “Getting to meet with different partners, understand what they do, share resources, share ideas, and really think strategically about how we address the issues particular to Fresno, but also in the state of California.”

     “I think for me, as a leader, it's taking in a step for myself, too, because I'm pouring so much into others,” said Jemal Hussein, co-founder and executive director of Tena, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit.

     “Today, (April 23, Sacramento, Calif.) we really were concentrating on partnership and what's possible. In this time of all the chaos, it's good to be in community and be able to create together,” said Berlin Joseph with the Haitian Alliance.  

     Some nonprofits expressed their initial frustrations, and what they further learned about the state of California resources available to communities.

     “My organization serves African-American youth specifically—we do serve all, but we have found that organizations that are Black-led have been left out,” said Dr. Angela Barfield, executive director of Black Students of California United at the Central Valley convening held in Fresno, Calif. November 18.  “We are not necessarily the first go-to when it comes to serving our communities, and we are always pretty much brought to the table as more less a photo-op to check a box.  So we're here today, one, to just connect with organizations to make sure that they understand that Black youth are here.  They're a part of California's collective, that they too deserve to thrive in a state that their parents pay taxes in, and they deserve educational resources and supports that are specifically designed for them so that they can continue to be a part of California's social and civic life.”

     “Well, the first thing I learned today is that we have a Youth Empowerment Commission. I'm like, how do we live in the state of California and we not know that we have this for youth? So making that connection was amazing.  And then being a part of this particular group. BSCU was brought in at the request of the acting executive director, and so just getting people to realize that Black youth are important. They're not just photo ops. They're not just box checks. They have something to share and give, and we have them.”