Beacon community schools
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Beacon Community Schools Initiative funding future→At a glance
- Public comments
- 15
- Last 30 days
- 15
Discussed at 1 meeting in the last 60 days; most recently Nov 2, 2026.
Public comments (15)
BACR community school manager praised the city's decade-long head start on community schools and described how student leadership pipelines from elementary schools feed into Helms and Richmond High.
City Council — November 2, 2026 · 48:02 →Riverside Elementary Beacon Director read student letters describing how leadership programs built confidence and reduced bullying.
City Council — November 2, 2026 · 50:24 →A Riverside Elementary student and SALT leadership member described two years of advocacy and leadership experience, asking the council to keep students heard and respected.
City Council — November 2, 2026 · 52:54 →Speaking in Spanish as Dover Elementary parent club president, credited Beacon Director Michelle and city-funded parent workshops — GED classes, health, sewing, mental health — with transforming families' lives.
City Council — November 2, 2026 · 54:02 →Spoke on behalf of Downer Elementary families in appreciation of Beacon Director Ms. Natasha as a bridge between school and families.
City Council — November 2, 2026 · 56:46 →A fifth grader at Downer Elementary urged continued support for the community school director position.
City Council — November 2, 2026 · 59:14 →A Downer Elementary fifth-grade teacher urged continued funding for Beacon Director Ms. Natasha, citing families' fear amid immigration enforcement and the program's role connecting families to resources.
City Council — November 2, 2026 · 1:01:52 →A fourth-grade teacher at Downer and former San Pablo Youth Commissioner urged sustained multi-year investment in Beacon directors, noting students' basic needs and ICE-related fears.
City Council — November 2, 2026 · 1:04:01 →Helms Middle School librarian described the new restorative justice programs, Restore Time and Restore Camp, which replace punitive detention with skill-building projects.
City Council — November 2, 2026 · 1:05:48 →Helms Beacon Director reported 32 leadership students with a waitlist, a Rainbow Alliance club started by a Downer student, and 30 parents at Coffee Club, crediting the city for connecting Beacon directors across schools.
City Council — November 2, 2026 · 1:07:37 →Contra Costa College African American Male Leadership coordinator described the Helms partnership bringing seventh and eighth graders to college and urged continued funding to keep youth rooted in the community.
City Council — November 2, 2026 · 1:09:56 →A Helms Middle School student in the Young Black Leaders program spoke about the value of investing in youth.
City Council — November 2, 2026 · 1:12:20 →Dean of Students at Contra Costa College praised the Helms partnership, noting students have become published authors of their own textbooks and cookbooks.
City Council — November 2, 2026 · 1:13:33 →A Richmond High student and former Helms YBL member described how the program built his confidence, became family, and shaped his future plans.
City Council — November 2, 2026 · 1:15:15 →A seventh grader at Helms in the YBL program thanked his mentors and expressed hope of writing a book like his brother.
City Council — November 2, 2026 · 1:16:04 →