Antioch Council approves $530,623 amendment to CalVIP contract to expand Uplifting Peace program

The Antioch City Council on June 10 unanimously approved an amendment to the city—s CalVIP (California Violence Intervention and Prevention) grant-funded contract with community provider 1 Day at a Time, authorizing an increase to the organization—s contract to expand the city—s Uplifting Peace fellowship.

The amendment approved by the council increases funding to support front-line staff and program activities; staff said the contract amendment adds $530,623 to the provider—s budget within a revised total award schedule, and the contractor and city representatives described the change as necessary to sustain outreach, add a full-time neighborhood change agent and finalize program staffing and training.

The vote came after staff described a correction to an earlier budgeting error and after detailed presentations by 1 Day at a Time. City staff member Moncerat Cabral told the council that a previously posted figure had been revised downward and the accurate total for the amendment package is $1,412,613. Cabral opened the presentation by saying, “I apologize for the oversight and appreciate your understanding.”

Why it matters

The Uplifting Peace fellowship, implemented locally by 1 Day at a Time under technical guidance from Advanced Peace and evaluation by Evident Change, targets people at the highest statistical risk of firearm involvement. City and provider staff told council they currently identify 19 fellows in the program and that while enrolled those individuals have not been injured or arrested on firearm charges. City staff and the provider cited studies that put the public cost of a single gun-homicide in the millions when health, justice and lost-productivity costs are added, and argued the program—s prevention focus can quickly produce fiscal as well as human benefits.

Program description and outcomes

1 Day at a Time—s CEO Johnny Rodriguez and program manager Arell Espinosa described a multi-tiered, case-management model derived from the Advanced Peace peacemaker fellowship. Espinosa told the council the program centers daily engagement and individualized "life map" goals for participants, and said the fellowship tracks participants through four tiers from initial outreach to a point where they can mentor others. "Our goal isn't to reach more individuals. It's to help shift the trajectory of gun violence in our city," Espinosa said.

Provider and staff presentations summarized those operational elements and recent activity: the program added training for staff, held community events (including a holiday toy distribution and a community clean-up), and completed specialized trainings with Advanced Peace. Providers reported 25 conflict mediations tied to the program and said 10 program participants have earned job-readiness certificates; one participant is pursuing a phlebotomy credential. Providers said outreach is happening in hotspots and that their two neighborhood-change agents together log dozens of outreach hours each week.

Budget and contract details

- The CalVIP award referenced by staff covers an implementation period of three years; the city was required to show a 100% match. City staff explained that match was met by a combination of earlier staff-time match and the city—s purchase of a building used in program operations. - Year-one program spending reported by the contractor was $221,365 with $119,041 carried forward; year-two outlays reported as actuals were roughly $225,000. The provider requested additional funds to pay for a full-time neighborhood-change agent, stipends tied to tiered participation, expanded events and the operational costs of constructive travel and training in the model. - At the start of the council discussion staff corrected a previously posted error in the agenda package; the revised totals were distributed prior to the vote.

Council questions and staff direction

Council members pressed program and budget details: several asked how many staff are currently on duty, how participant tiers advance, what the city—s match consisted of, and whether the program has adequate evening/weekend coverage. Providers said daily check-ins and crisis response are part of the NCA role and that the two current NCAs are operating at capacity; the amended funds were justified to expand that capacity.

Council members and the city manager also raised concerns about coordination. Councilmember Tamisha Torres Walker and others asked that the city manager and the program meet promptly to clarify communication lines and coordinate quarterly performance check-ins that should include public-safety leadership. City Manager Bessie Scott told the council she would work with staff to resolve outstanding coordination and reporting issues.

Action and next steps

A single council action was recorded: approval of the amendment to the consulting services agreement with 1 Day at a Time to increase funding for the city—s CalVIP-funded Uplifting Peace work. The motion passed unanimously (5-0). Council members asked staff to reconvene program leadership, the city manager and public-safety staff to review staffing, reporting, and a timeline for the program—s next phase; staff said they would return with updates and that providers remain eligible to apply for follow-on cohort funding.

Provenance and accountability

City staff said the program is reimbursable (the city and contractor invoice against actual services) and that BSCC reporting and periodic audits are part of the CalVIP grant rules. Providers said they have been participating in technical trainings and external evaluations; an audit completed earlier in the year was described in the meeting as having been completed without exception.

What council members said

- Moncerat Cabral (Community Resources): "I apologize for the oversight and appreciate your understanding." (correcting a posted accounting error.) - Arell Espinosa (1 Day at a Time): "Our goal isn't to reach more individuals. It's to help shift the trajectory of gun violence in our city."

Where it goes from here

Council approved the amendment to sustain the Uplifting Peace fellowship and to add staff capacity. Council members and the city manager instructed staff to tighten interagency check-ins (including public-safety leadership) and to bring implementation updates back to council while providers complete onboarding of the new program manager and NCA. The council discussion made clear that, even after approval, staff and providers must align on schedules, reporting, and the program—s operational details before the city considers future cohort applications or additional long-term funding commitments.

Ending

The amendment passed 5-0. Councilmembers emphasized the need for regular briefings and for the city manager to be included in program coordination meetings so the city can monitor performance, ensure audit readiness and support the program—s stated goal of preventing gun violence in Antioch.