Florence Davis became involved with Faith in Action East Bay (FIAEB) through the Belong Campaign. Four years later, she is now a board member with the intent of ensuring representation for West Contra Costa County.
Her concerns for her community are also expressed in being a Rydin Road ambassador with Collaborising, a non-profit that is doing most of the outreach at the Rydin Road encampment. She helps an unhoused couple purge and clean their area, listens to the needs of residents, and attends city council meetings with her FIAEB LOC (local organizing committee) to advocate for better relief.
In addition, she has become a Belong Circle facilitator and is starting a new circle this month. She also helps with training new facilitators.
“I am very passionate about justice and nonviolence,” she said, “especially justice work that focuses on peacemaking.”
Her career has focused on sexual assault crisis intervention. “Criminal justice system is not useful at all for survivors of sexual assault,” she explained. That is why she is training to be a facilitator for Bay Area Transformative Justice Collective.
It is not that she has a lot of extra time but being able to work from home helps in her justice work. Florence grew up in Bermuda, moved to Ohio at the age of 19 to go to college, and moved to Richmond in 1983.
“God and faith keep me sustained!” she said. “I am blessed to have a good support system with my church [The Way Christian Center] and other faith leaders.”
For the future, she hopes to re-invigorate Ceasefire Night Walks in Richmond. The Rydin Road encampment is set to sunset October 1 and Florence believes that Ceasefire work in Richmond, including regular night walks, should be the next priority.
Meanwhile she delights in her three grandsons Kyrin (22), Kameron (8), and Kaden (5 months). “Grand-parenting is my favorite of all roles & brings me the most joy!”