By Mike Kinney
While City of Richmond Crime Prevention Manager Michelle Milam tends to be laser-focused both as a professional and as a community volunteer, today the focus was on her for a change.
Among her many duties in the community, Milam has been busy working to support and identify funding opportunities to help the unsheltered community at the Castro Street encampment. This afternoon, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks hosted a tour and awards ceremony at the encampment to honor Milam as the California Legislative Women’s Caucus Woman of the Year, and also to learn more about what can be done to support the unsheltered community there.
Wicks’ office lauded Milam for dedicating her life “both through her employment and as a volunteer.”
“As a Crime Prevention Specialist, Milam identifies new ways to address mental health issues and connect victims of violent crimes with healing circles and police chaplain services,” Wicks’ office notes. “Additionally, Milam serves on Richmond’s Homeless Taskforce where her involvement ranges from identifying funds for secure housing to creating safer environments for those in encampments. Milam has also been involved in organizing events that bring the community together whether it’s Juneteenth or National Night Out.”
On today’s tour, Milam did not stop working for her community. She spoke with Assemblymember Wicks about the needs of unsheltered people at the Castro encampment, and the importance of community partners like Way 2 Love Inc., the Contra Costa County Coordinated Outreach Referral, Engagement (C.O.R.E.) program, and the City of Richmond.
“The importance of being here today is seeing the community partnerships taking action and finding solutions to the problems, and what my Office can do to help fulfill those needs here,” Wicks said.
Added Vanessa Calloway of Way 2 Love Inc, “It’s all about all hands-on deck with these community partnerships. “
