Our afternoon was spent in Richmond, Ca where we met up with Youth Together, a youth program that was created in response to racial conflicts in school communities. They research and study about their community, then inform and organize themselves to improve their community's living conditions.
Some of the main problems they are facing are gentrification, Chevron Oil Refinery,lack of medical facilities and care. To our surprise, Richmond hospitals do not treat bullet wounds, cancer, and laboring women cannot have their babies in Richmond.
Some other facts that were brought up to our attention was that Richmond is 2nd to Compton in Homicide rate in the country. Besides having a notorious reputation, young professionals who commute to San Francisco for work are buying up property in Richmond. Most of the Richmond neighborhoods are being gentrified, but what does this mean for the working class people of Richmond?
They are also dealing with environmental issues, Chevron being one of their main causes. Located in the city is a Chevron Oil Refinary that also stores jet fuels. There have been evidence showing the correlation between birth defects, cancer, and asthma to toxic waste seeped into the water, ground, and air.
Some of the main problems they are facing are gentrification, Chevron Oil Refinery,lack of medical facilities and care. To our surprise, Richmond hospitals do not treat bullet wounds, cancer, and laboring women cannot have their babies in Richmond.
Some other facts that were brought up to our attention was that Richmond is 2nd to Compton in Homicide rate in the country. Besides having a notorious reputation, young professionals who commute to San Francisco for work are buying up property in Richmond. Most of the Richmond neighborhoods are being gentrified, but what does this mean for the working class people of Richmond?
They are also dealing with environmental issues, Chevron being one of their main causes. Located in the city is a Chevron Oil Refinary that also stores jet fuels. There have been evidence showing the correlation between birth defects, cancer, and asthma to toxic waste seeped into the water, ground, and air.
Watching the sunset over the North Beach Point in Richmond brought a sense of peace that another day of struggle in Richmond has ended and more days of enlightenment to come. Reflecting with R2W participant Peka Pesaleli she said," Usually when I go to the beach I enjoy playing in the sun and swimming, but knowing that there have been oil spills in the water saddens me. I think of all who are affected, humans,global warming and sea animals! I am a animal lover (land and water) and just learning from Youth Together that the oil spilled in the water slows down the fishes and children are swimming in it just breaks my heart! But I have the utmost respect and give Youth Together big props for the amazing work that they do to help their community. Richmond was one of my favorite crawls I think its because I was able to see the struggle and the community standing together."
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