BELLE HAVEN ACTION

IN 2023, BELLE HAVEN ACTION (BHA) CONTINUED ITS MISSION TO ADDRESS THE PRESSING NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY BY FOCUSING ON A BROAD RANGE OF LOCAL ISSUES. OUR WORK TOUCHED ON CRITICAL AREAS SUCH AS HOUSING, LOCAL EMPLOYMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, PUBLIC HEALTH, TRANSPORTATION, AND VOTER ENGAGEMENT. THROUGH A STRENGTH-BASED APPROACH, WE AIMED TO CONFRONT AND MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF SYSTEMIC RACISM AND EMPOWER OUR NEIGHBORS. ONE OF OUR SIGNIFICANT INITIATIVES WAS OUR COLLABORATION WITH A COMMUNITY- BASED ORGANIZATION TO LAUNCH THE FIRST VOTER EDUCATION CENTER IN BELLE HAVEN. OUR GOAL WAS TO DOUBLE VOTER TURNOUT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, AND WE ENGAGED DIRECTLY WITH THE COMMUNITY THROUGH SURVEYS ABOUT FARMERS MARKETS, OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATIONS TO EDUCATE RESIDENTS ABOUT VOTING RIGHTS, LOCAL RESOURCES, AND THE BENEFITS OF BHAS WORK. WE ALSO EXPLORED WAYS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION, ENSURING THAT EVERYONE COULD ENGAGE WITH THE CITY AND COUNTY MEANINGFULLY. AHEAD OF THE GRAND OPENING OF AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, BHA PLAYED AN ACTIVE ROLE IN FACILITATING THE APPLICATION PROCESS. WE HOSTED INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS AND PROVIDED DIRECT SUPPORT TO POTENTIAL APPLICANTS, OFFERING ASSISTANCE TO THOSE WHO WERE DENIED OR HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCESS. OUR FIRST-EVER OPEN HOUSE AT OUR NEW OFFICE WAS A MILESTONE IN EXPANDING OUR PHYSICAL PRESENCE IN THE COMMUNITY. WE PARTNERED WITH OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO SHARE THE SPACE, FOSTERING COLLABORATION AND REINFORCING OUR COMMITMENT TO WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BELLE HAVEN COMMUNITY. WE ALSO CONTINUED OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE UMOJA HEALTH SOUTH COUNTY INITIATIVE AND LAUNCHED A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SAN MATEO COUNTY HEALTH COALITION TO ADDRESS HEALTH DISPARITIES AND PROMOTE WELLNESS. WE ALSO PROVIDED A SHUTTLE TO THE LAST REPARATIONS MEETING IN SACRAMENTO. LOOKING AHEAD, BHA REMAINS COMMITTED TO HONORING THE PAST AND BUILDING A STRONGER, MORE UNITED FUTURE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO HOST OUR SIGNATURE EVENTS, INCLUDING THE ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY UNITY WALK, JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION, BLACK HISTORY MONTH ACTIVITIES, RUBY BRIDGES DAY, AND THE NAACP GALA. IN ADDITION, WE ARE EXPANDING OUR EFFORTS TO SUPPORT TENANTS IN CRISIS, PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION ACCESS TO CRITICAL MEETINGS, AND LAUNCHING A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN TO GUIDE OUR WORK IN THE YEARS TO COME. IN ALL OF OUR WORK, BELLE HAVEN ACTION STRIVES TO CREATE A MORE JUST, EQUITABLE, AND VIBRANT COMMUNITY FOR ALL.