Not for Us, Without Us!

Raise your voice to help choose Just Transition Projects for North Richmond

We’re inviting North Richmond residents to take part in Not For Us, Without Us!, a series of community meetings designed to ensure that decisions about North Richmond are shaped by the people who live here.

*Up to $150 Stipends are available for North Richmond residents (Read more below..)

These meetings are a space for neighbors to come together, share lived experiences, and help identify the projects that matter most to our community. The focus is on addressing long-standing health, environmental, and economic inequities. Through small-group conversations and Q&A sessions, participants will help build a prioritized list of Just Transition projects focused on cleaner air, better transportation, and local jobs and economic opportunity.

Over 100 Years of Environmental Burden

After over 100 years of suffering from the environmental pollution from the Richmond Chevron Refinery, residents who live in neighborhoods along the fenceline, such as the Iron Triangle, North Richmond, and Parchester Village, still have not benefited from efforts to mitigate the impacts of Climate Change or efforts to create high-quality green jobs. Despite policy wins and higher penalties for violations, these most impacted Black and Black communities STILL DO NOT HAVE a community-driven list of priority Just Transition Projects that could direct climate resources to their communities.

Why These Meetings Can’t Wait

Big decisions about climate and economic investments in Richmond are happening now. If we are not in the room, those decisions will be made without us.

Over the next two years, hundreds of millions of dollars are expected to come into Richmond for projects tied to clean air, transportation, jobs, and community health. But that funding does not go automatically to the communities that need it most. It goes to projects that are clearly defined, community-backed, and ready to move forward.

These meetings are how North Richmond residents shape what those projects look like. This is where we decide what gets built in our neighborhoods, how money is spent, and who truly benefits.

Not For Us, Without Us is about moving beyond being asked for input after decisions are made. It is about community members leading from the beginning and claiming a real role in Richmond’s just transition.

Our Approach

Up to $150 Stipends for North Richmond Residents (See details below)

How the meetings work:

There will be a 3 meeting series. Each meeting series includes two sessions:

Meeting #1: Orientation & Laying the Groundwork
- What is Environmental Justice?
- What is Just Transition?
- How can North Richmond access $68,000,000+ in funding to transform our neighborhoods

Meeting #2: Learning About the Projects
- Learn about over 100 potential existing projects
- Add in new projects residents would like to consider

You only need to attend any two meetings total (Meeting #1 and Meeting #2, from any location or format) to fully participate.

Choose the option that works best for you. We’re offering three ways to join, two in person and one online.

In Person, Corrine Sain Multicultural Senior Center
515 Silver Ave, Richmond, CA 94801

Meeting #1: Wednesday, January 21, 2026 | 1:00–4:00 PM Sign Up
Meeting #2: Wednesday, January 28, 2026 | 1:00–4:00 PM Sign Up

In Person, Verde Elementary Cafeteria
2000 Giaramita St, Richmond, CA 94801

Meeting #1: Wednesday, February 4, 2026 | 5:30–7:30 PM Sign Up
Meeting #2:Wednesday, February 11, 2026 | 5:30–7:30 PM Sign Up

Online, Zoom

Meeting #1 Wednesday, February 18, 2026 | 5:30–7:30 PM Sign Up
Meeting #2 Wednesday, February 25, 2026 | 5:30–7:30 PM Sign Up

If your schedule doesn’t allow you to attend both sessions in the same series, you’re welcome to mix and match across locations or formats. All participants and the broader community are invited to join our final gathering.

To honor the passing of a respected North Richmond community member and to make sure that everyone can attend the homecoming services, the Not For Us, Without Us Community Vote and Celebration originally scheduled for Saturday, March 7th has been rescheduled to Saturday, March 21st. Location and time are TBD.

Community Vote & Celebration
Saturday, March 21, 2026 | TIME TBD
LOCATION TBD

At this event, we’ll vote on the final list of priority Just Transition projects and celebrate the collective work of our community.

Sign Up

Stipends for North Richmond Residents

We value your time and contributions.

$100 stipend for any North Richmond resident who attends both Meeting #1 and Meeting #2. Although you are welcome to attend all meetings, you can only receive one stipend for attending Meeting #1 and #2.
Additional $50 stipend for those who also attend the Meeting #3: Community Vote & Celebration on March 7th, 2026

Stipends are available only to North Richmond residents who attend both Meeting #1 and Meeting #2, at any location or format. All stipends will be distributed in person at the March 7 Community Vote and Celebration.

This process is about making sure community voices lead the way. We hope you’ll join us and help shape what comes next for North Richmond.

The Outcome

At the end of this series of meetings, the community will have a strong list of prioritized projects, with initial budgets and project descriptions that can be championed and pitched to funding opportunities. This ensures fenceline communities finally receive the direct relief from the burdens they have been carrying for over 100 years.