Richmond art studio helps people with disabilities stay connected

Jonathan Velasquez performs music from his recent album, Jonathan del Norte, available on NIAD’s new record label, NIAD Sound Recordings.

The coronavirus pandemic has upset nearly every facet of life as we know it. But for Deshawna Kinard and other people with developmental disabilities, the closures and stay-at-home orders have posed some unique challenges. To stay connected, Kinard now logs onto Zoom to take part in her classes and other events offered by Nurturing Independence…

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Concerned citizens fight growing food insecurity

A pedestrian receives a free meal from a volunteer

“Four,” came the shout as another car filed into Richmond Police Activities League’s parking lot on September 22. This was passed down the line to a platoon of volunteers who rushed to assemble four food bundles as the car approached. Every Tuesday and Thursday since early September, thousands of these bundles, prepared by a variety…

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Vacant, Neglected, Destructive: How Richmond’s abandoned homes became fire hazards

After sitting vacant and neglected for almost a decade, 662 Fourth St., a home in the Iron Triangle, burst into flames. The blaze, which neighbors say was started by trespassers, lead to the destruction of three homes. According to public records and interviews with city officials, Richmond doesn’t have the budget or staffing to fully mitigate the risks posed by vacant homes.

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Transportation Commission approves grant to better Iron Triangle

Pogo Park crew and volunteer residents posed for group photo before ending the last hour of the Living Preview. (Photo by Candese Charles)

The California Transportation Commission approved a $6 million grant for a plan to improve Richmond’s Iron Triangle neighborhood. Known as the Iron Triangle Yellow Brick Road Walkable Neighborhoods Plan, the project aims to improve streets notorious for high crime and blighted conditions. Pedestrians and bicyclists would get safer, cleaner pathways to schools, parks and churches. The paths would be…

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Inside Richmond’s highest performing school

If you walk down the hallways of Richmond College Prep Schools (RCPS), it looks like many other elementary schools. But there is one key difference: it is the highest performing school in Richmond. The school, located near the Iron Triangle, is ranked #1 in the city and #4 in the West Contra Costa Unified School…

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