EQUITY COMMITTEE
Meeting Date: October 6, 2025
Subject: African American Wellness Hub Transitional Community Advisory Body Interviews
Submitted For: Equity Committee
Department: Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice
Referral No:
Referral Name: African American Wellness Hub Transitional Community Advisory Body Interviews
Presenter: Kendra Carr
Contact: kendra.carr@oresj.cccounty.us <mailto:kendra.carr@oresj.cccounty.us>
Referral History:
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. There will be a balanced representation of gender, sexuality, age, class, physical ability, County districts, and other relevant social and cultural categories to ensure a broad and diverse spectrum of perspectives are included in all
T-CAB deliberations and decision-making.
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 plan to interview the recommended applicants at the October 6th meeting. By this meeting date, one additional application was received from a District 2 resident.
Referral Update:
The Equity Committee will interview T-CAB applicants and determine next steps.
Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):
INTERVIEW candidates for the Transitional Community Advisory Body for the African American Holistic Wellness and Resource Hub, and PROVIDE direction on next steps.
Fiscal Impact (if any):
N/A