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Category: News and Events

Executive Director Bids Farewell After A Great 11 Years

Richmond +510-974-7200 Concord +925-521-6366 Antioch +925-281-0970 Danville 925-486-0100 Solano +707-784-7635 Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Youtube Home About Us Vision, Mission, & Values Message From The Director Who We Are Board of Directors Partners Staff News & Reports Annual Report Strategic Plan In the News Career & Volunteer Opportunities Programs Safety Navigation Lawyers for Family Justice Elder Abuse Prevention Project TeleCARE Healing Mind Power In Action Trauma Recovery Center Mentes Positivas WINGS Community Community Fellowship Family Justice Institute Youth Programs & Resources Strangulation Task Force Project Connect Seeking Support? TeleCare E-Referral Donate (Tax ID #47-4082871) Sign Up for Our Newsletter Calendar BSTC 2025 Leave Page Home About Us Vision, Mission, & Values Message From The Director Who We Are Board of Directors Partners Staff News & Reports Annual Report Strategic Plan In the News Career & Volunteer Opportunities Programs Safety Navigation Lawyers for Family Justice Elder Abuse Prevention Project TeleCARE Healing Mind Power In Action Trauma Recovery Center Mentes Positivas WINGS Community Community Fellowship Family Justice Institute Youth Programs & Resources Strangulation Task Force Project Connect Seeking Support? TeleCare E-Referral Donate (Tax ID #47-4082871) Sign Up for Our Newsletter Calendar BSTC 2025 Leave Page Family Justice Center Looks Ahead Executive Director Bids Farewell After 11 Years Dear Friends and Community Partners,I am writing today to share some important news about an exciting transition ahead for the Family Justice Center. After 11 meaningful years, I will be stepping down from my role as Executive Director later this year. I began my journey with the Family Justice Center in 2014, at a time when we had just one location, a dedicated team of five, and a temporary home within a small Richmond Police Department substation. Today, we have five thriving locations across Contra Costa County and Solano County, a team of 55+ dedicated team members, and a powerful network of 80+ partner organizations. We have built a robust mental health program serving both adults and children, a comprehensive legal services unit, and a hub that not only connects clients with essential services but also strengthens the capacity of our partners across the region. It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as the founding Executive Director—to shape the vision, build the foundation, and nurture the extraordinary growth of this organization. Now, as we look to the future, the Family Justice Center is entering a new chapter. We are a mature and resilient organization with experienced leadership already in place, and we are well-positioned to welcome a new Executive Director who will carry this work forward with fresh vision and energy. In the coming months, I will be working closely with our Board of Directors to support a smooth and thoughtful transition. The Board has formed a 5-member search committee and has engaged Walker & Associates Consulting, a Black and woman-owned executive search firm promoting equitable community impact. They will be connecting with staff and key partners to gather insights on the qualities and priorities for the Center’s next leader. Our goal is to select a new Executive Director by November this year. While it is bittersweet to move on from a role that has meant so much to me, I do so with immense pride in all that we have built together and with unwavering confidence in the Family Justice Center’s continued success even in these challenging times.Meanwhile as some of you know, my next chapter will involve launching a new initiative close to my heart, the SAFE (Services and Access For Everyone) Center, a support hub for newcomers in our community. I look forward to sharing more in the months ahead and hope you will stay connected as this vision takes shape. Thank you for your partnership, your trust, and your commitment to our mission. I look forward to working with you through this transition. Looking forward, Susun Kim, Esq.Executive Director

Family Justice Center Navigator Karina Recognized For Making A Difference

This week was the National Victim’s Rights Week and to celebrate it the District Attorney’s office recognized 7 candidates within Contra Costa County for having an impact within the community for victim’s rights. We were proud to be notified that one of our own navigators, Karina, was among those recognized for the category of making a difference within the community. Since Karina started, she has been a bright light, leading with her huge heart and always giving her best. Karina has taken on many projects and has done so with grace and a huge smile. While working with clients, she is able to make a huge difference to them by listening to their situation and assisting them with any difficulties they’re experiencing by connecting them with a variety of resources. Whoever she works with, she appears to go above and beyond! Held outside near the courthouse in Martinez, victim witness advocates, law enforcement, district attorneys, county employees, and community members were present to see and listen to Karina who gave a passionate and moving remarks at the event. The Family Justice Center is fortunate to have such great team members who are committed to our clients and demonstrate empathy and support for them. Thank you for all your hard work and congratulations Karina! If you are experiencing any form of interpersonal or domestic violence and wish to be connected with one of our wonderful navigators please click here to find the nearest center to you!

Organizations Working Together

Over the weekend, the Family Justice Center partnered with The Black Neighborhood in hosting a pop up farmers market! This was the first of its kind and a very special event for everyone involved. The Family Justice Center has had the pleasure of working with The Black Neighborhood in the past and supporting their food giveaway initiative.  This year LaShara Johnson from the Family Justice Center had the pleasure of spearheading the initiative on behalf of our organization. She wanted to give community members more of a choice in the services that were being provided to them.  The McGlothen Temple Church-God in North Richmond Ca were gracious to let us use their parking lot for this event. North Richmond is an underserved area in the Richmond community and it’s where we felt that a food give away would have the biggest impact. We also brought in Fresh Approach, Urban Tilth and White Pony.   The Black Neighborhood usually gives away food to over 200 people, but because this was our first time in this area we had a goal of 100 people. After providing fresh produce, jackets, resources and canned goods over 150 people we can say that our goal expectations were surpassed! We look forward to continuing these partnerships to keep giving more opportunities. Click on any logo below to learn more about the programs involved:

FJC Solano Strategic Planning

Contra Costa Family Justice Alliance To Assist Rebuilding Solano

Recently, the Contra Costa Family Justice Center Alliance just finished it’s strategic planning event in Solano. This 2 day event was the first of many steps in rebuilding the area’s center to meet the standards that the Alliance of Hope International stated they did not meet. With the Contra Costa Family Justice Alliance taking over administrative responsibilities, they discussed how the center can move forward ranging from topics of client needs, racism, oppression, childhood adverse experience, to funding and sustainability, outcomes, coming together as a community, and more. Reina Sandoval-Beverly will be taking over as the director for Solano County moving forward with assistance of Maya Sanchez and Dulce Prado for key staff. To learn more, please take a look at an article written by the Daily Republic for an excellent report on the event itself and for more details: Daily Republic – Reconstruction Planning Begins for new-look Solano County Family Justice Center

Family Justice Center Parent Project Graduates

Congratulations to the Parent Project Graduates!

Concord Parent Project 2023 March 16, 2023 A groundbreaking accomplishment has just happened for our community! In a collaboration between both the Concord Police Department and Central Family Justice Center, parents graduated a 10 week class focused on education and bringing extra tools for them to respond as better parents for their children. At the end of their 10 week class, parents were handed a certificate of completion by Concord Police Chief Mark Bustillos and given a celebration for their hard work. This is the first cohort for the Spanish-speaking community in the area and will be continuing at a later date. If you are interested in more information, or would like to know when the next class is starting you can contact Marisol at the Family Justice Center: marisol@cocofamilyjustice.org You can also check out this video that was put together for this project.

Good Neighbors: Share-ing in the praise, recognition

SHARE volunteers collect and distribute food to our hungry neighbors from their Food Pantry in Concord. President George Conlow, Vice-President Ron Hannan, Board members Jan Harman and Russell Meier, and volunteer Don Ray recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award, a congratulatory letter from President Obama, and a Safeway gift card for achieving at least 4,000 cumulative volunteer hours in service to the community. The awards were presented by Volunteer Center of the East Bay’s Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). [Read more]

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