Results Achieved

Assigned Key Informant Interview Results

It's important to note that while I was assigned 9 CalVIP/Byrne partners to conduct interviews with, only 3 of the 9 were active in following up and scheduling interviews with me while others were either late to respond within the timeline from May 30th to July 11th, on vacation, or simply didn't respond after an initial email, follow-up email, an email from the grant writers and an impromptu site visit. In fact, one organization, SAVV, had pulled their contract with Project HOPE following the disapproval of the administrative management of the grant allocation process on the day following my site visit. The 3 interviews I conducted were with Pastor Anthony Summers of Healthy Vallejo (Impact Bible Ministries),  Brandon Rodegeb of Michael's Transportation Services, and Solano County Public Defender Elena D'Agustino. These interviews involved me preparing interview questions that reflected changes from Survey 1's results from Year 1 of the HECJ Lab's Evaluation. In order to setup these interviews, I had to send initial emails explaining to the informants the context of my evaluation in my role as a formative evaluator for Project HOPE, the significances of their responses on future downstream approaches for Project HOPE in the city, and with whom their responses would be shared with.  This was reitereated as well before the start of the interviews that I was able hold.

Focusing on the key takeaways from my assigned organizations before looking at the entirety of results that were presented, Healthy Vallejo gave me clear insight into what a properly functioning and optimal partnership looked like. Their services expanded due to the grant, with an increased ability to provide youth mentorship, work opportunities, and education/training by employing more youth interns and gifting youth members. Difficulty was also addressed in the lack of transparency from administration with the grant details and allocation amount, which was something that was commonly found amongst all of the partners. Despite this, their organization and its members found significant improvements in their personal and professional lives. For Michael's Transportation Services with Brandon Rodegeb, he was very clear on the frustration and lack of follow through from Project HOPE administration to clarify and resolve his organization's grievances. To start, they were promised funding for an employee of $6500, but lapses in the insurance forms and time between responses from Project HOPE and their organization caused significant delays in the process that lasted months. Up until the point of the interview, he was still awaiting for a response from Project HOPE on their grant allocation and what money would do for them without any referred clientele sponsored by Project HOPE. This key informant interview revealed more about Project HOPE's infrastructure, or lack thereof, than it did about the grant utilization and efficacy on the community through their training/employment services in transportation. For the key informant interview with Solano County Public Defender Elena D'Agustino as a Byrne community partner, she was only able to provide me the answers to a couple of the questions with which she had very little knowledge of unless it directly referred to her role in the city. She often stated that she would have an officer go in her place or assistants to attend quarterly Project HOPE meetings, but she herself had little to no understanding or affiliation to the grant whatsoever and how that affected her office directly. However, at the base of her understanding for her and the other 2 organization informants, they stressed a need to meet the community where they are at and giving justice involved individuals the proper education, representation, and opportunities they need to develop into active and able-bodied members of the community, bettering the public health and safety of Vallejo residents and youth.  

Aggregate Key Informant Presentation Results

Based on all of the key informant interviews completed with CalVIP and Byrne Partners, several key themes emerged regarding the utilization of grant funds, challenges faced by the partners, and the broader impact on the community and its relationship with the Vallejo Police Department (VPD). The interviews highlighted that the majority of the 11 active respondents were community or non-profit organizations and county offices, with NorthBay Medical Center being a notable exception. These organizations primarily focused on education and violence prevention, offering both direct interventions and alternative strategies to violence. Most of the services were concentrated in the 94589 and 94590 zip codes, though they were available to all Vallejo residents. A significant portion of the presentation centered around the utilization of grant funds. Several organizations reported that existing services were expanded thanks to the grants, particularly in terms of staffing and providing paid employment opportunities. However, there were substantial issues related to unutilized grant funds due to insufficient participant referrals from Project HOPE. This was compounded by communication breakdowns at higher administrative levels, leading to delays in service provision and confusion about the terms and processes of the grants. Many partners were unclear whether the funding was a one-time allocation for three years or an annual allocation over three years, which affected their financial planning and operations. The impact of Project HOPE on the community and its relationship with the VPD was mixed. While some partners observed positive outcomes, the majority indicated that there had been no significant impact on the relationship between the community and the police. Persistent issues such as a lack of police presence, ineffective crime deterrence, and insufficient communication between the police and community members were noted. This contributed to a culture of poor policing and shared communal trauma due to unresolved violence and crime. Key recommendations from the findings include the need for more specific recruitment strategies tailored to Project HOPE’s partners and programs, development of leadership and vocational skills, and establishing permanent community centers for youth activities. There is also a call for expanding service metrics to include comprehensive support systems such as mental health, employment, and education, and advocating for policies that recognize non-violence program participation in sentence reductions for inmates. As Project HOPE enters its final year in 2025, the lab advises conducting focus groups with service participants and implementing pre- and post-survey reports on Vallejo residents’ perceptions of VPD and their safety needs. This would help ensure that the grant's objectives are being met and provide a clearer understanding of its impact on the community.