Dear friends,

We are starting off the year strong with some good news. First, we want to say thank you to our supporters for their generosity. Because of you, we exceeded our fundraising goal for the end of 2022 by more than $7,000–raising a total of $27,075! We’re excited to continue serving our community members through our workforce training, mental health, emerging business support for immigrant entrepreneurs, community organizing, Relief Fund, and other programs. We are immensely grateful to have the support of so many people who believe in our mission and want to make a positive impact in Contra Costa and beyond.

Additionally, this past Saturday, the Concord City Council voted against Concord First Partners’ term sheet for the redevelopment of the Concord Naval Weapons Station. You can read more about the various issues we and our allies had with the term sheet in our action alert from last week here. Council members are interested in finding a new master developer who will be more responsive to the needs of the community. While this is a step in the right direction, key factors of the project like the amount and type of affordable housing it will provide still remain unanswered. Please keep an eye out for news as the City figures out next steps for the future of this development.

Looking ahead, Monument Impact applied for funding for the Monument Families Recovery Program, a guaranteed income pilot program that we hope to launch this year. This pilot project aims to disburse 12 months of cash assistance ($500/month), plus up to $2,500 in a one-time cash grant, to at least 120 families living on low incomes living in the 94520 zip code in Concord. Many of these families are Latinx and other people of color that current systems fail to support.

Should we secure our target funding, widespread evidence shows that programs like this will improve the lives of at least 325 residents, reduce their household’s rent burden, help them better afford basic needs – like food, transportation, and child care – and provide opportunities to increase their savings to better weather future economic challenges. 

We will receive an update on our funding request at the Concord City Council meeting, currently scheduled for February 28 and we would love for you to attend and show your support for Monument Impact.

Thank you for helping us enter 2023 with such a strong start. Please keep an eye out for our email updates, and follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) for more ways you can get involved.

In community,

Judith Ortiz, Executive Director

We are happy to announce the formalization of the Delta View Tenant Association – the FIRST tenants’ association in Antioch! Last year, Monument Impact organizers conducted a door-to-door survey of tenants at Delta View Apartments, a complex of more than 200 units. During this process, our organizers heard from residents that they were concerned about habitability issues (such as, flooding, roaches, mold, cracked ceilings, sewage, and poorly maintained laundry machines), and that their management company, FPI Management, was doing nothing to address these concerns.

The Delta View Tenant Association is calling on FPI Management, ROEM Development, and the Concord City Council to address and enforce correcting these issues and improve the living conditions of Delta View residents. 

Flora Valle always dreamed of owning a business, but was hesitant as she felt that it would be too difficult. That all changed in July 2022 when she heard a presentation by our emerging business coach, Edith, during a Monument Impact technology class she was attending. 

She was immediately interested and reached out to Edith so they could meet one-on-one. That very same day, Edith guided Flora in completing the necessary documents to obtain her business license for Valle’s House Cleaning Services.

To date, Flora is happy to have made that first step where she is now better able to support her and her family financially. Contact Valle’s House Cleaning Services at (925) 848-9568 or flora.valle83@gmail.com 

If you are a Concord or Antioch resident and would like to start your own business, please contact Edith Guillen at edith@monumentimpact.org or at 925-682-8248 ext. 2105 for more information.

Do you or someone you know have diabetes or want to learn more about how to prevent it? Join us for our free virtual diabetes self-management classes every Tuesday for six weeks starting on February 21 at 9:30 a.m. These classes will be held in Spanish.

Together, we’ll learn about diabetes and how it affects your health, diabetes management techniques, and how to create a healthier lifestyle. 

To sign up, please call Alejandra Villagran at (925) 682-8248 ext. 2400 or text at (925) 222-5671 with your name and contact information. 

¿Si usted o alguien que conoce tiene diabetes o desea obtener más información sobre cómo prevenir o combatir la diabetes? Únase a nosotros en nuestras clases virtuales totalmente gratuitas sobre cómo controlar la diabetes todos los martes por seis semanas a partir del 21 de febrero a las 9:30 a.m. Estas clases se impartirán en español.

Juntos, aprenderemos sobre la diabetes y cómo afecta su salud, las técnicas para controlar la diabetes y cómo crear un estilo de vida más saludable.

Para inscribirse, llame a Alejandra Villagran al (925) 682-8248 ext. 2400 o envía un mensaje de texto al (925) 222-5671 con tu nombre e información de contacto.

Interested in applying for U.S. citizenship? Contact Cristina Guerrero at 925-682-8248 ext. 2170 to book an appointment and for support in submitting an application.

The requirements for citizenship are as follows: 

• Be 18-years-old at the time of applying.
• Be a legal permanent resident for 5 years, or 3 years if you are married to a citizen.
• Be able to read, write and speak basic English (unless exempt).
• You can be exempted from the English language requirement if:
• You are age 55 and have been a legal permanent resident for 15 years.
• You are age 50 and have been a legal permanent resident for 20 years.
• You are age 65 and have been a legal permanent resident for 20 years.

¿Está interesado en solicitar la ciudadanía estadounidense? Comuníquese con Cristina Guerrero al 925-682-8248 ext. 2170 para programar una cita y apoyo en la presentación de una solicitud.

Algúnos de los requisitos:

• Tener 18 años cuando envíe su aplicación.
• Ser residente permanente por lo menos 5 años ó 3 años, si es casado con un ciudadano americano.
• Leer, escribir y hablar inglés básico. (al menos que sea exento).

  Usted puede hacer su examen en español si tiene:



• 50 años de edad y 20 años con residencia permanente
• 55 años de edad y 15 años con residencia permanente
• 65 años de edad y 20 años con residencia permanente