To: Board of Supervisors
From: Kendra Carr & Peter Kim, Co-Directors Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice
Report Title: Bylaws for the African American Holistic Wellness and Resource Hub
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE the Bylaws for the Transitional Community Advisory Body for African American Holistic Wellness and Resource Hub.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact.
BACKGROUND:
On August 12, 2025, the Board of Supervisors approved the final implementation plan for the African American Holistic Wellness and Resource Hub. At the time, the Board of Supervisors approved the establishment of the Transitional Community Advisory Body (T-CAB) for the African American Holistic Wellness and Resource Hub (AAHWRH).
The T-CAB will support the AAHWRH development during Phase 1 by providing guidance to ORESJ in the procurement of an independent lead entity who will oversee implementation and coordination. Similar to the AAHWRH Feasibility Study Steering Committee, the T-CAB will be a community-led advisory body comprised of thirteen (13) county residents that each possess personal and professional lived experiences that reflect the needs, concerns and priorities of vulnerable African Americans in Contra Costa County.
The Transitional Community Advisory Body’s responsibilities will include:
• Review and provide feedback on eligibility and selection criteria for Implementation Lead entity
• Review and provide feedback on eligibility and selection criteria for Executive Director
• Review and provide feedback on eligibility and selection criteria for Board of Directors
• Review and provide feedback on eligibility and selection criteria for Community Council
• Support outreach and recruitment efforts for interested and qualified candidates for all positions/roles described above
To ensure there are no conflicts of interest, T-CAB members cannot have professional affiliations nor close personal relationships with any organizations or persons interested in applying for and/or serving in any of the above capacities. ORESJ will design a recruitment, application and selection process that includes an Equity Committee interview and nomination of T-CAB finalists, which will then move to the Board of Supervisors for final approval and appointment.
The T-CAB will remain in place until an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization is created, an AAHWRH Board of Directors is appointed, and a Community Council is established, after which the T-CAB will dissolve.
On August 25, 2025, a press release was issued announcing that applications were available for those seeking a seat on the T-CAB. The application period closed on September 12, 2025, and 48 applications were received. No applications from District 2 were received by the deadline.
At the September 22, 2025 meeting, the Equity Committee requested that ORESJ staff: 1) Reopen the application process and recruit applicants from District 2, and 2) Request that each District Supervisor recommend their top applicants to move forward to the T-CAB applicant process
On September 29, 2025, the Equity Committee reviewed the list of Supervisor recommendations and set an October 6, 2025 Special Equity Committee meeting to interview the recommended applicants.
At the October 6th Equity Committee meeting, each applicant recommended by their District Supervisor was interviewed, including one additional District 2 applicant/resident who applied when the application process was reopened on September 22, 2025. The Equity Committee selected 13 members to recommend to the Board of Supervisors for T-CAB appointment. The Board of Supervisors appointed the recommended 13 members at the October 21, 2025 meeting.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this action is not approved, the T-CAB will not have Bylaws to govern its operation.