Contra Costa Together: Community Voices
We believe in the wisdom of our region. We believe that our communities know what they need – and are demonstrating resilience every day. We believe we are stronger together. When we listen to and learn from each other, we can do more than we ever could alone.
“No matter what our skin color is, what our economic background is, or any of that, right? Let’s start bridging that and building people together and saying, ‘I see your struggle, and I’m also going to be right there with you.'”
-Marivel Mendoza
“I think we’re at a time in this country, but definitely locally in this county, where there’s the opportunity to bridge in a way we have never done before.”
-Gigi Crowder
“We must cleanse the wounds before we close the wounds. And our wounds cannot become walls to keep us from moving forward.”
-Philip H. Arnold Jr.
“This movement is going to outlive this chaos that we’re in. And so there are people who are big-hearted, community-centered, like future-focused healers who are coming together right now. You don’t want to miss this. It’s the time to be a part.”
-Kendra Carr, Ed.D.
“This is a time to lean into individual values. If I say I believe in belonging, if I say I believe in respect and dignity for all, then that should show up in every space that I’m in.”
-Shannon Ladner-Beasley