Cal State East Bay Blog

Cal State East Bay Partners with Rubicon Programs to Strengthen Fight Against East Bay Poverty

---

By ELIAS BARBOZA

In the Bay Area, 1.8 million residents, or roughly three in ten people, struggle to cover their basic needs. The latest numbers show poverty increased to 16.3% in 2023, with Alameda and Contra Costa counties being heavily impacted. Alameda County has a particularly higher rate, second only to San Francisco County. This data, collected by the Public Policy Institute of California and the Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality, highlights the economic challenges many Bay Area residents face every day and paints a clear picture of the difficulties they’re going through.

To overcome this challenge, a nonprofit organization is dedicating its efforts to successfully transforming Bay Area communities by breaking the cycle of poverty, one individual at a time. Headquartered in Richmond, Rubicon Programs operates multiple sites throughout Contra Costa and Alameda counties, providing a holistic approach to economic mobility. The organization serves approximately 3,000 people each year in Antioch, Concord, Richmond, Oakland and Hayward. Its mission is clear: Help East Bay communities achieve economic mobility through income growth, asset building, wellness and positive social connections.

“Rubicon is here to eradicate poverty, mostly in the East Bay, and open up all kinds of opportunities for people,” said Rubicon’s Development Manager Christie Deems. ”We’re a re-entry service, for those who have been in the military and want to join the work force, or someone who has a disability or little job experience, or those returning to the community from incarceration. Our goal is to have everyone from multiple populations get back on the best path for their future.”

Participants of Rubicon are connected one-on-one with impact coaches who help create customized pathways. Depending on their needs, participants are connected with financial coaches, employment coaches, career advisors or wellness coaches. Now, through a new partnership with Cal State East Bay’s Nonprofit Management Certificate Program, Rubicon is investing in the development of its own staff and strengthening its ability to deliver life-changing services.

The Nonprofit Management Certificate Program is a fully online program that teaches students the essential tools and frameworks of nonprofit management, including board development, financial management, fundraising, marketing, program evaluation and nonprofit law. It’s taught by instructors with substantial experience in all aspects of the nonprofit field and can be completed in six to nine months. In fall 2024, five Rubicon employees were sponsored to complete the certificate program, including Deems, who earned her certificate in November. The experience, she said, was transformative.

“It was amazing, and I can’t say enough about it,” said Deems about the Nonprofit Management Certificate Program. “It was practical knowledge and relatable. It was easy to understand but it also challenged you at the same time. I would look into this program as a great chance to pivot your career as well as springboard you into the next level of your career if you’re already in the nonprofit sector. And because it's such a short program, you can see results quickly and not have to wait for them long term.”

In addition to the comprehensive course work, Deems said the program positively changed her perspective about the nonprofit world, and the instructors were helpful and encouraging.

“At the end of class, instructors would go over real-world problems with us and give out resources,” said Deems. ”The instructors were knowledgeable and they were always supportive and welcoming. I recommend the program 100%.”

Rather than seeking distant universities, Rubicon chose to strengthen ties locally. The partnership between Rubicon and Cal State East Bay represents a shared commitment to raising capacity within the nonprofit sector and improving the East Bay community, said Adrienne Kimball, Rubicon’s chief talent officer.

“This is the first time CSUEB has been connected with Rubicon employees and it came about because we are always looking for growth and development opportunities,” said Kimball, who is responsible for connecting Rubicon employees to CSUEB’s certificate program. “The partnership is important because we are a premier employer in our own backyard, and we believe CSUEB is the same. With Cal State East Bay we don’t have to go far to get quality education or employment, and we like to merge with local recognition. We really do believe [CSUEB] is premier, and it’s great that it’s here in our own backyard.”

There are currently two Rubicon employees enrolled in the certificate program, and as soon as they complete all courses, Kimball said she’s ready to connect a new batch of colleagues with Cal State East Bay.

“Moving forward, [Rubicon] plans to add more employees into Cal State East Bay every 18 months,” said Kimball. “Our intent is to keep connecting as much as we can through the next several years because we’ve seen the success it brings.”

Return to Cal State East Bay Blog »

---