Throughout my field study in Richmond I noticed that a large number of the systems officials such as the Superintendent as well as the head of public health were not from the area and would commute into the city for work. After a fair amount of personal research on them as well as verbal communication I had discovered that these higher up officials were from areas that were vastly different from Richmond. On top of this a majority of them were Caucasian/White. The common conception about Richmond California is that it is a very poor and dangerous area. The fact that these officials come to this area with the idea of bettering it with no knowledge of the actual area displays the White Saviorism that is currently alive in Richmond. This finding often affects the toxic power dynamic between these Systems and the Community Based Organizations in this area.
What I had found through many observed situations was that this power dynamic that was influenced by white saviorism, often came across as a battle for the acknowledgment and pride of completing a policy that will better the community. In many instances these policies would be community informed and created by the organizations with collaboration of other organizations and then recommended to the systems partners. At this point the organizations and community have done all the heavy lifting. I witnessed that the system's partners then felt as if the community was trying to do their job and that they wouldn't gain the grace and respect if this policy was implemented. A very obvious case of this was documented in a Board of Supervisors meeting. This meeting was discussing the possible creation of a Social justice and Race Equity office for the county. The community was already on bad terms with one of the supervisors who was white and from one of the more affluent areas. She would not back down on some of the wording that was proposed in the RFP and subsequently the proposal was pushed back another month.
When the systems that are put in place to better the community battle for power with the community the outcomes of for all are skewed. There is now justice or equity without cohesion. Oftentimes I witnessed very promising policies and programs being shelved because of the inability of systems and organizations to to drop their struggle for who is in charge and in power. The community as a whole does not gain any type of equity when the decision makers and informers/convieners are at war with each other. We can not simply achieve change when the cohesion and relationships are crumbling. There are many examples of the failing dynamic that I have noticed but it is important to understand the power of proper community cohesion and non toxic dynamics. Prior to my arrival at Healthy Contra Costa there was a mutually agreed upon "Quality of Life Plan" drafted by all of the key decision makers in the community as well as the community based organizations. This detailed the plan of how all the partners would work to change the cumulative lives of those in Richmond. After the creation of this there were vast improvements in all forms of equity in the community. Unfortunately that plan was on a ten year timeline and is no longer applicable.
This research shows that the current toxic power dynamics between the Community Based Organizations and Systems Partners based in and around Richmond California are not only influenced by white saviorism but are also costing the community their right to equity. The current dynamics are hindering the policy process and are creating a lack of cohesion. These two supposed "allies" are locked in a contest in which no one wins and only the community members lose. The major effect of this dynamic is prolonged policy change and a lack of prompt equity.