Delta Bay Impact: African American Youth & Family Initiative
Research has long made clear that education, financial security and a sense of belonging are all significant factors in achieving and maintaining health and well being. The absence of those factors is a significant contributor to health disparities.
Delta Bay Impact (DBI) is an emerging nonprofit organization, founded in 2023, that addresses the achievement gap for elementary, middle, and high school students and advances educational enrichment, financial empowerment, and holistic health to improve the lives of African American youth and families in Contra Costa County. It does this by providing wrap around services to Black students, including tutoring and test preparation, skill building, and mentorship. It also takes a whole family approach by providing parent education and family success through parent training, family nights, financial workshops, and cultural events. And DBI has successfully begun working with other community organizations to expand its reach and impact.
The CHF recognized that DBI aligns with the CHF’s commitment to supporting BIPOC-led emerging organizations that address the social determinants of health. That’s why, in April 2024, the CHF awarded DBI a $35,000 Executive Director discretionary grant to develop a multiyear business plan with Emerald HPC Consulting. The goal was to establish priorities, a clear strategic direction, and a funding structure that would provide long-term sustainability. DBI quickly developed such a plan, which encompasses programming initiatives, hiring new staff, and expanding its partnerships with other community-based organizations. In August 2024, the CHF awarded DBI a $100,000 grant to help the organization implement Phase I of its plan.