Home Grown Leaders: The CELI Story and Why Representation Matters
Celebrating Our Spring 2025 Graduates and FIERCE’s 20-Year Legacy
This spring, FIERCE Advocates celebrated the graduation of a new cohort from the Community Education Leadership Institute (CELI), a leadership program grounded in the belief that those closest to the issues should be at the center of the solutions.
As we honor FIERCE’s 20th anniversary, this milestone moment is about more than completing another cohort. It reflects how our communities continue to grow their power from the inside out.
The Heart of This Cohort
Though smaller in size, this year’s CELI group brought clarity, conviction, and a deep sense of purpose. According to Dulce Galcia, Policy and Advocacy Organizing Manager at FIERCE, the group’s passion reaffirmed the priorities that matter most to our community leaders: equitable education and accessible mental health services.
Their advocacy also helped sharpen FIERCE’s strategic focus. The group’s energy and interests informed which local boards and commissions FIERCE will continue to support. These decisions are rooted in the lived experiences of families in Contra Costa County who are ready to deepen their involvement and lead from where they stand.
Learning, Growing, and Leading
CELI isn’t only about preparing people to join public boards and commissions. It’s about transforming how we understand leadership.
Riana Robinson, Organizer and Leadership Development Coordinator, shared a powerful moment from the cohort’s first session. The focus was leadership, and the group was invited to claim that identity for themselves.
“Most of the fellows come in a bit apprehensive and need encouragement to claim their power,” Riana said. “Their voices start off timid, but we repeat the phrase ‘I am a leader’ until folks stop flinching and bring power to their voices.”
This transformation, quiet self-doubt turning into grounded self-belief, is at the heart of what CELI offers.
Learning the Rules to Change the Game
This was also the first year CELI included a session on Robert’s Rules of Order. It was a hit. The training equipped fellows with the technical tools needed to participate meaningfully in formal meetings.
An attorney who previously worked with a commission in Oakland led the session. Then, in true CELI fashion, the learning became hands-on. Fellows ran a mock meeting of the “Pizza Ordering Commission,” using formal meeting procedure to debate toppings, vendors, and budget. The vote was ultimately tabled due to concerns about community input and transparency.
It was a lighthearted exercise with a deeper message. Our communities are more than ready to lead. They just need the tools to navigate systems that were not designed with them in mind.
A Future Rooted in Collective Power
The graduates of this cohort are Black and Brown leaders who care deeply about ensuring every child in Contra Costa County has access to quality education, mental health support, and a future where they can thrive. They are united by a shared responsibility not to fail this generation.
As Dulce emphasized, CELI is about more than just policy or placement. It’s about relationships. Fellows learn to build trust within their cohort and the systems they aim to transform.
“CELI serves as a key strategy to ensure that families are not ignored, especially at a time when our democracy feels increasingly fragile,” she shared.
Tying Back to Our Roots
For two decades, FIERCE Advocates has supported parents and caregivers in turning lived experience into leadership. CELI extends that legacy, preparing everyday people to influence public decisions and bring the voices of Black and Brown families to the forefront.
As we look ahead to the next 20 years, we carry forward the legacy of every CELI graduate. They remind us that leadership already lives in our communities. Our role is to nurture it, support it, and make sure it’s never overlooked.
To learn more about CELI, visit fierceadvocates.org/leadership-development
