Many thanks to RPA intern Tony Tamayo for reviving this discussion from a Richmond City Council meeting in 2016. Former Councilmember Jovanka Beckles demonstrated tremendous leadership in her minority vote to not adopt a City Council resolution which included the harmful language of Blue Lives Matter. 

Here are upcoming RPA meetings and events. Please note, most meetings are only open to RPA members, although allies and guests are often welcome. If you are interested in becoming a member, you may do so here. Dues may be waived if they are a barrier to you joining the RPA. If you have questions about joining the RPA, or are interested in attending a meeting as a non-member, please contact [email protected]   

Comentarios públicos pueden enviarse por correo, correo electrónico y/o videoconferencia Zoom de la siguiente manera; cada participante tendrá la oportunidad de hacer un comentario por tema.

From homelessness services to tenant protections, housing issues in Richmond are hugely important. RPA's Housing Action Team (HAT) needs help from more members to work toward affordable and fair housing outcomes.

In support of a transition away from fossil fuels in the City of Richmond, the Richmond Progressive Alliance (the RPA) is undertaking a community-engagement process around Just Transition in Richmond, which we’re calling the Listening Project. The goal of the Listening Project is to better understand the concerns and needs of Richmond communities that have historically suffered the greatest harm from generations of fossil fuel operations in our City. The RPA has secured funding to support this Listening Project, which will be overseen by a dedicated subcommittee of the RPA and allied organizations and individuals. As such, although the Listening Project itself is a short-term project with defined tasks and time periods, depending on funding and success, we hope this role will expand into next steps when the Listening Project concludes. 

Richmond Progressive Alliance (RPA) has launched an internship program. Doing so serves joint purposes of cultivating the talent of young Richmonders around short term, action-oriented projects and also increasing visibility of RPA among Richmond youth. We are simultaneously creating opportunities for youth to work on emerging issues in a progressive political environment while also expanding RPA’s capacity. This small employment opportunity will enhance the local workforce and re-circulate money back into our own community through the hiring of Richmond youth.

Check out this video of Councilmember Jiménez reflecting on her first seven months in office, and visioning ahead to the future.

RPA environmental justice and climate catastrophe activists have been after our local refineries to clean up their air pollution for years, especially Chevron and now PBF Energy (who bought the Shell refinery in Martinez in 2020).  The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Board of Directors met this past July and voted overwhelmingly in favor of strict new requirements for particulate matter emission standards.

Growing up, my head was constantly filled with fantasies about freedom, choices, riches, and justice. I was raised to believe that a country founded by immigrants and for immigrants was rooted in justice, liberty, and freedom for all. I was raised to believe that I could become whomever I wanted if I just worked hard enough. I was raised to believe that everyone mattered, was protected by the law, and was cared for by society.

Richmond has a fireworks problem. For some of our residents, it feels like July 4th has become an entire season.