Richmond residents are invited to attend the next Community Action Plan (CAP) Town Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 6-8:30 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.). The event will take place at CoBiz Richmond, located at 1503 Macdonald Avenue, Suite A.
Organized by Ceres Policy Research in partnership with Chevron Richmond, the CAP Town Hall series aims to strengthen transparency, communication, and trust between the refinery and the local community. This upcoming session marks the third CAP event under the 2024 settlement agreement with the Bay Area Air District (BAAD).
During the event, Chevron employees will present updates on flaring, air quality compliance, and efforts to increase transparency. Representatives from Contra Costa Health, the Hazardous Materials Program, and Community Awareness and Emergency Response (CAER) will also discuss the Community Warning System, explaining how alerts are issued and what actions residents should take for each alert level. They will also talk about broader emergency coordination and response protocols for the area.
Following presentations, a public comment session will give residents the opportunity to ask questions about the CAP, county notifications, refinery operations, or broader community concerns.
Dr. Kerby Lynch, director of research and facilitation at Ceres Policy Research, has guided the CAP process since its inception and emphasized the importance of open, two-way communication.
“Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with residents who live closest to the refinery,” said Dr. Lynch. “What I’ve learned — and what I hope this town hall reinforces — is that real change begins when people have access to clear, honest information.”
Dr. Lynch also noted that bringing Chevron staff, public health officials, and emergency responders into the same room with residents helps foster mutual understanding.
“This meeting is designed so that those with answers aren’t distant voices, but people in the room whom residents can engage with directly,” she said. “There are no dumb questions here — this is about building shared understanding and ensuring our community feels informed and protected.”
The CAP effort brings together a diverse cross-section of Richmond voices. Among the members are James Becker of RCF Connects, Miriam Wong of The Latina Center, Willie Robinson of the NAACP Richmond Branch, Kathleen Sullivan of Black Women Organized for Political Action, and local neighborhood leaders Marena Brown, Randi Dean, Joe Fisher, Kim Jones, Patrice Taraji Lewis, John Monks, Philip Rosenthal, Stedmon Searcie Jr. and Vernon Whitmore.
For the Oct. 22 event, a light dinner will be provided, giving attendees a chance to connect with neighbors, local leaders, and officials in an informal setting. Spanish and ASL interpretation will be available upon request. Residents needing accommodations should email [email protected] by Oct. 15.
