CRRA 2023 Conference and Trade Show

Sustainable Materials Management (SMM), Senior Program Manager, Environmental Sustainability Office

Director of Programs, STE

Ricky Ramos is the Director of Programs for Streets Team Enterprises, the workforce development wing of Downtown Streets Team, a homeless advocacy agency operating in Northern and Central California.

Litter Abatement and the Homelessness Crisis: Cross-Agency Action

In 2021, Downtown Streets Team (DST) was included in a $2.3 million dollar Clean California grant submitted by the Alamada County DA's office with DST as subgrantee. This talk will discuss the role of people experiencing homelessness in the abatement of litter and illegal dumping. Thanks to coordination between multiple agencies including the DA's Office, the Alameda County Illegal Dumping Task Force, and Argent Materials, DST has been able to engage unhoused neighbors as agents of change. One of the most complex challenges in addressing litter and illegal dumping is dumping at or near homeless communities. By engaging local unhoused persons to help beautify areas in and around zones where they live, and by supporting job creation for the unhoused, these agencies are able to effect positive environmental changes as well as changes in the way homeless neighbors are often viewed as part of the problem to illegal dumping instead of part of the solution. DST operates two programs in this endeavor: its flagship program which engages unhoused volunteers in street beautification as part of program of wraparound support that includes case management and a basic needs stipend; and a supported employment program that pays an above-minimum wage to unhoused individuals looking to enter the realm of mainstream work.

Food Shift Executive Director

Yuka leads Food Shift, a nonprofit shifting the way people think and interact with food by uplifting communities through rescued produce: reducing waste, nourishing our neighbors, and building community capacity. As a turnaround expert guided by values of  justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI), Yuka excels at creating roadmaps for organizations and communities at a point of inflection by focusing on comprehensive strategies that are collaboratively implemented, and mindfully minimizing and navigating financial, operational, and cultural risks. Yuka was born and raised in Japan, educated in North America, and eventually settling in SF Bay Area via Denmark.

Developing a Diversity-Informed Lens for Designing Policies and Programs

Developing a Diversity-Informed Lens for Designing Policies and Programs

2 stories for a JEDI mind and a 7 point framework for inclusive policies and programs

Despite the impacts of climace change affecting our marginalized population disproportionately, our policies and programs often overlook underserved communities. Ironically, more awareness and intent to serve people from minoritized groups, have not resulted in more adoption, participation or engagement.

Through two short stories and illustrative case studies, this keynote presentation explores 1) the need for a diversity-informed lens when developing policies and programs for resilient and sustainable climate action strategies and practices; 2) an alternative approach to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion; and 3) how to get (re)started

[for the organizers: full draft of the speech/presentation is available upon request]