To: Board of Supervisors
From: Shanelle Scales-Preston, District V Supervisor
Report Title: ADOPT Resolution to honor and recognize the life of Charles Smith for his longstanding service, advocacy, and contributions to education and the Pittsburg community.
Recommendation: Recommendation of the County Administrator
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT Resolution to honor and recognize the life of Charles Smith for his longstanding service, advocacy, and contributions to education and the Pittsburg community, as recommended by Supervisor Scales-Preston.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No Fiscal Impact.
BACKGROUND:
Charles Smith was a lifelong resident of Pittsburg, California, and a graduate of Pittsburg High School, Class of 1966. He attended the University of California, Davis, and worked as an environmental scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. A Vietnam veteran, Charles maintained a longstanding commitment to education, civic engagement, and volunteer service.
Influenced by his mother’s career as an educator with the Pittsburg Unified School District, Charles recognized the importance of educational opportunities for young people. He tutored local children in mathematics and science and remained actively involved in organizations dedicated to supporting the community.
His community involvement included serving on the East Contra Costa NAACP committee, working alongside Souljah’s House to organize the annual Martin Luther King Jr. march in Pittsburg, and sharing his gardening knowledge through the Los Medanos Community Garden to help grow fresh produce for local seniors. Charles also regularly attended Pittsburg City Council and Pittsburg Unified School District meetings to advocate for issues affecting local residents.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
None.
The Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County, California
In Memoriam: Honoring the Life and Legacy of Charles Smith
In Grateful Recognition of His Lifelong Commitment to Education, Civic Engagement, Community Advocacy, and Service to Others
WHEREAS, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors joins the family, friends, and residents of Pittsburg in mourning the passing of Charles Smith, a lifelong member of the Pittsburg community whose unwavering dedication to education, public service, civic advocacy, and the well-being of others leaves an enduring legacy of compassion, integrity, and community leadership; and
WHEREAS, a proud graduate of Pittsburg High School, Class of 1966, Charles Smith carried forward a family tradition of educational service inspired by his mother, a longtime educator in the Pittsburg Unified School District, and remained a passionate advocate for educational opportunity and equity, particularly for children of color; and
WHEREAS, Charles Smith continued his education at the University of California, Davis, and pursued a distinguished professional career as an environmental scientist with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, applying his knowledge and expertise in the service of scientific advancement, while also answering his nation's call to military service as a proud Vietnam veteran; and
WHEREAS, throughout his life, Charles Smith demonstrated an unwavering commitment to civic participation and community accountability, regularly attending and addressing Pittsburg City Council and Pittsburg Unified School District meetings, where he courageously and thoughtfully advocated for issues affecting residents, families, and underserved communities, exemplifying the importance of an engaged and informed citizenry; and
WHEREAS, as a longtime committee member of the East Contra Costa NAACP, Charles Smith worked to advance equity, justice, and opportunity, while also collaborating with Souljah's House and helping organize the Martin Luther King Jr. march in Pittsburg, honoring the principles of equality, service, and community solidarity that guided his life's work; and
WHEREAS, Charles Smith believed deeply in investing in future generations, generously sharing his knowledge by tutoring local children in mathematics and science, encouraging educational achievement, and demonstrating through his own example the transformative power of learning, perseverance, and mentorship; and
WHEREAS, his spirit of service extended beyond advocacy and education to meaningful acts of everyday compassion, including his involvement with the Los Medanos Community Garden, where he cultivated fresh fruits and vegetables for local seniors, demonstrating that community leadership is expressed not only through the causes we champion, but also through the kindness and generosity we extend to our neighbors; and
WHEREAS, through a lifetime of steadfast service, Charles Smith exemplified the highest ideals of citizenship, combining intellectual achievement with humility, principled advocacy with practical action, and a deep love for Pittsburg with an enduring commitment to improving the lives of its residents, leaving a legacy that will continue to inspire future generations;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED that the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors hereby honors and celebrates the life and lasting legacy of Charles Smith, expressing its profound gratitude for his distinguished military service, professional accomplishments, advocacy for educational equity, civic leadership, and extraordinary dedication to the Pittsburg community. We extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all whose lives he touched, recognizing that his legacy will endure through the opportunities he helped create, the young people he mentored, the neighbors he served, and the community he loved. May his example of service, courage, and compassion continue to inspire others to work toward a stronger, more just, and caring community.