Vice President Kamala Harris Inspires

“You never have to ask anyone permission to lead. When you want to lead, you lead.”

― Vice President Kamala Harris, The Truths We Hold: An American Journey.

Echoing Vice President Kamala Harris’ bold sentiment, Felton Institute has a legacy of leading community building and providing services and programs that embody the ideals of social justice. We proudly share her vision of a just and equitable society and VP Harris’ leadership inspires the work we do every day. Over a career that spans local, state, and federal government, Harris demonstrates unwavering commitment to empowering and making communities safer. At Felton Institute, we embody these values by providing programs and services that mirror her vision. As we reflect on her musings, thoughts, and insights, the commonality of ideas shared by Harris and Felton Institute, reflect practices leading justice-involved individuals, families and diverse communities to successful outcomes. Our Division Director of Justice Services, Curtis Penn, explains, “Felton’s justice programs are centered on social justice. They’re designed to systematically dismantle social and psychological barriers to the extent that folks become hopeful, re-engaged, and self-determined to change their trajectory.” 

 

Unity and Diversity

“Our unity is our strength, and our diversity is our power. We reject the myth of “us” vs. “them.” We are in this together.”*

Felton Institute is committed to strengthening individuals and their families by providing innovative and compassionate services that center community building. Our Justice Services Division serves justice-involved individuals including the formerly incarcerated, those who are insecurely housed or unhoused, and those with substance use and unaddressed mental health disorders. Additionally, Felton employs a racially and ethnically diverse executive leadership and workforce of over 500 employees as well as those with lived experience, such as the formerly incarcerated, many of whom lead our Justice Division programs and services. We uplift all we serve and each other. We lead with compassion recognizing that our strength lies in unity and diversity. 

 

Making Communities Safer

“For too long, we’d been told there were only two options: to be either tough on crime or soft on crime—an oversimplification that ignored the realities of public safety. You can want the police to stop crime in your neighborhood and also want them to stop using excessive force. You can believe in the need for consequence and accountability, especially for serious criminals, and also oppose unjust incarceration. I believed it was essential to weave all these varied strands together.”*

Felton Institute is at the forefront of making communities safer. The Angelo Quinto Community Response Team (AQCRT) and the Integrated Health & Resource Team (IHART) are mobile community resource teams serving the cities of Antioch and Vallejo. The teams provide a 24/7 non-police response to low-level, non-life threatening, 911 calls. The dedicated teams are comprised of non-police personnel who conduct welfare checks, screenings, and assessments. They provide proactive, culturally responsive engagement linking residents to resources based on their specific and urgent mental and behavioral health needs. These programs empower residents by supporting long-term prevention services and community conflict mediation. Felton recognizes that community outreach and collaboration are paramount in making communities safer.  

 

Providing a Second Chance

“My daily challenge to myself is to be part of the solution, to be a joyful warrior in the battle to come. My challenge to you is to join that effort. To stand up for our ideals and our values.”*

Felton continues Harris’ fight for justice and embodies her values and ideals in giving justice-involved individuals a second chance. Elected in 2003 as San Francisco’s District Attorney, Harris was instrumental in creating opportunities and pathways for youth to lead healthy, productive lives by launching the Back on Track initiative that sought to reduce recidivism among low-level drug-trafficking defendants by giving them a structured second chance. The Bay Area program grew into what would become Felton Institute’s Young Adult Court (YAC). Operating under the name YAC starting in 2015, the program has empowered over 400 participants to lead healthy, productive lives.  

 

Making Impactful Change

“Years from now, our children and our grandchildren will look up and lock eyes with us. They will ask us where we were when the stakes were so high. They will ask us what it was like. I don’t want us to just tell them how we felt. I want us to tell them what we did.”*

Felton Institute reflects VP Harris’ vision of a just and equitable society. We take on challenges and provide solutions through our diverse programs and services. We recognize that by empowering justice-involved individuals, providing opportunities for second chances, and collaborating with community members, we create safer communities that allow individuals and their families to flourish.

*Vice President Kamala Harris’s quotes are from her memoir The Truths We Hold: An American Journey.