I want this post to be as loud as their announcement when we did the collaboration.
I’ve been informed that Bonafide Sisterhood Inc services are no longer needed in the City of Antioch. Once they secured the $1.7 million dollar grant funds the new City Manager revisited the contract and decided, the only organization in their city that’s been providing violence prevention and intervention work to shootings, homicide victims, mediating conflicts, supporting high needs families is no longer needed.
The language changed once they used my work to write the grant. My first reaction was to get mad, my second reaction was laughter because anytime you place black folk over money it’s always gone be something. I been doing this work out my own pocket for the last 10 years in Antioch. The sad part is they don’t understand God called me to this work and this his battle not mine.
This is why I stay away from the politics of the work, never went after grants . When you do this work without a support system people take advantage of you. I’ve been real quiet to all the mistreatment I’ve received across the board because my focus is saving lives through violence prevention.
I’m now seeing, if we prevent violence then nobody will be getting paid to sit behind desk and capitalize off our trauma. This just open the door for a bigger fight, I have never been scared to be the person that goes against systems that re-traumatize the communities I served. Now that I’ve used all my money doing the work they used that to disqualify me from the work.
This is why it’s important to vote, a city with out great leadership is a city without structure.
The nerve of people, if we don’t see what they trying to do to me as a red flag, Maybe I’m on the wrong side of this business.
Nina Carter
Bonafide Sisterhood Inc
Editors Notes: Letters + Background
The following is background on the CALVIP grant and a timeline.
January 26, 2022: On Tuesday, the Antioch City Council approved an action in a 5-0 vote to direct staff to apply for the California Violence Intervention and Prevention (CalVIP) Grant Program. This would be for a period of 5 years in an effort to reduce gun violence — Full Story
Aug 5, 2022 Letter:
June 1, 2022
Councilmember Tamisha Torres-Walker announced the city they BSCC (Board of State and Community Corrections) has approved the City of Antioch CALVIP application for $1.794 million. On June 9, 2022, at 10:00 am, the BSCC Board of Directors is scheduled to vote and award the CALVIP funds to the City of Antioch.
She stated in her Facebook Post:
“This is so exciting as a local leader and resident who has been trying to bring California Violence Intervention and Prevention funds to Antioch since 2016. Calvip grants must be used to support, expand, and replicate evidence-based violence reduction initiatives that seek to interrupt cycles of violence. Strategies eligible for funding could include but are not limited to hospital-based violence intervention programs, evidence-based street outreach programs, and focused deterrence strategies. I would like to take this moment to appreciate all the individuals that work closely with me to make this possible,” — said Torres-Walker.
Nov 10, 2022
Editors Commentary: Political Payback
Simply put, this is another game being played by inexperienced staff at the City of Antioch who are playing political games on behalf of members of the Antioch City Council.
In the District 4 City Council Race, Nine Carter ended up supporting Sandra White for council, over incumbent Monica Wilson.
While they may cite “financial needs” did anyone at city hall do their homework to look at financials prior to going after the grant? This was awarded in June, its now November.
In only took two days until after the election for Bonafide Sisterhood to receive the letter. It also comes when Councilmember Tamisha Torres-Walker likely will not win re-election who continues to push for services in undeserved communities and fight against community violence.
This is just another example of a fall in line vindictive city hall or one will be punished.
According to the Antioch Chamber of Commerce website, Bonafide Sisterhood Inc provides Life Coaching, Workshops, Empowerment Groups, Grief Support, Violence Prevention and Intervention
11 comments
Shame on you City of Antioch. The city clearly used all the wisdom and incredible work of Bonafide Sisterhood to get the funds and then cut the organization loose once the funds were awarded. The community knows you care more about the money than actually helping the community because if you really wanted to help the community you would not have betrayed Bonafide Sisterhood.
WOW. As a grad student at UC Berkeley. I cannot believe this. My first reaction when reading this is anger and frustration. Antioch residents, I urge you to stand up and speak up against the injustices we are facing by this administration. Nothing is crueler than taking out the community when doing something for the community.
This is an atrocity! The City of Antioch is more concerned about the loot than the lives. They haven’t done anything to help those that need it most. Bonafide Sisterhood and it’s founder Nina Carter was used and betrayed. Just because she doesn’t fall in line you kick her and her much needed services to the curb. Shame, shame shame! Where is the money going? I guess they are lining their pockets. There needs to be an audit. The money was awarded in June, we are in November! SMDH!
Thanks Nicky,
This move speaks to the character of leadership in this city.
Nina-
I am so sorry this is happening to you. I would make as much noise as possible, specifically with organizations such as John Muir, Sutter Delta, and the county health services. Why? Well, I know that John Muir has a case management program for victims of gun violence, and they are working with the surrounding communities to address the need to prevent gun violence. Our local health organizations need to know what is going on. It’s a shame that this city politizes community intervention. I have been quiet for way too long for fear of being called a “racist” when I have been affected by racism an incalculable amount of times. Our mayor brought false hope, and this is one of the many actions demonstrating poor leadership and care for Antioch. I have said this before and will say it again, some officials are using Antioch as a stepping stone to further their careers in politics. I hope the city can work something out.
I knew something shady was going on with city hall when they got the money and took so long to find any of the programs going on at the bona fide sisterhoods resource center. Every program was paid for out of her pocket. Nina, was the only one to help when my house was shot up. Nobody and I mean nobody at city hall kept their word! It’s a cesspool, here! Crooked crooks, we must name names! In the words from Harry Potter, “HE WHO must not been named” is behind this darkness. I have never seen such corruption in all the days of my life, the indictment is not just one person or two or three people, it’s a cohort of evil.
Have you and your family gotten to return to your home? If I remember correctly gas lines were hit?
I hope you are all well and am so grateful we have organizations such as Bonafide Sisterhood willing to step in and help.
Lamar, Con and the rest of the regime that’s who.
Sad and Antioch’s statistic chart doesn’t show anything for 2022’s skyrocketing crime either. They could have added this year through 10/31. You can see an extreme spike in violent crime though. I’m disappointed in the City Antioch big time. No one from Antioch was helping the tenants who’s apartments were shot up and became inhabitable except Bonafide Sisterhood apparently. Wrong to say their services are no longer needed when they were working and the community wants and needs them. I wish Antioch would undo the redistricting it did. I would have rather see Lori than another 4 years of Monica Wilson who didn’t support Chief Brooks and I can’t think of anything she’s done for Antioch in the 10 years I’ve been here.
Once again disappointed with the City Antioch big time. No one from Antioch was helping the tenants who’s apartments were shot up in freezing December damaging a gas line causing them to become inhabitable except Bonafide Sisterhood apparently. I remember when that happened. Wrong to say their services are no longer needed when they were the only ones helping these victims. The community wants and needs Bonafide Sisters because the City can’t get anything done about mentally I’ll and homeless in the 10 years I’ve been here. Some people are just normal people living out of their cars because rents are so high. I wish Antioch would also undo the redistricting it did. I would have rather see Lori than another 4 years of Monica Wilson who didn’t support Chief Brooks who deserved the support of every City Council Member and the Mayor and we would still have our Chief.
I don’t understand why the community is so quick to throw such dirt on the City’s name. The money is still there and they will still have a partner to carry out this much needed violence intervention and prevention work….. IT JUST WONT BE BONAFIDE SISTERHOOD! Maybe bonafide doesn’t have the infrastructure, maybe bonafide presented like they could handle management and implementation of the program…but they cant. Not yet aren’t doing the work …i my to contesting that, but with federal funds there is are strict guidelines.
And not everything is political! No one cares who supported who during campaign season…it’s much more work to have to start from the drawing board.
It’s a silly unsupported comment (and wish ECT took a more journalistic approach).
Believe in your city and the work it is doing, and don’t be so quick to not look within. Oh and Nina “every time you put Black folk over money it’s always going to be something” ?!?! Really? (Girl you are part of the problem!)
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