Equity Arcadia staff outline events, partnerships and new community development grant

Equity Arcadia co-managers Moe Harper Dezier and Fernando Paz updated the City Council on Sept. 17 about the group's work connecting Cal Poly Humboldt and Arcadia through trainings, events, internships and a new community development grant launching this fall. "Equity Arcadia is a formal partnership between Cal Poly Humboldt and the city of Arcadia," Dezier said, describing programs including cultural event support, equity trainings, internships and a Home Away from Home project that recently welcomed 135 students to a neighborhood community center. The presentation listed recent outreach — vending and networking sessions for small vendors, a sanctuary day collaboration on Aug. 23, and summer tours — and upcoming events including a connection zone during campus Homecoming and a potluck on Dec. 7. Staff described a new competitive community development grant intended to strengthen campus–community partnerships and said applications will prioritize existing relationships that foster belonging; no grant amount was specified. Council members offered thanks and asked questions; no action was requested or taken during the staff report.