The Black Resiliency Project — Tackling Big Issues Across All Demographics

July 21, 2026

After witnessing racism directed at displaced people of color following the Camp Fire and encountering hostile online discussions after George Floyd's murder, Rachel Morton founded "Black in Butte," an online group that unexpectedly grew from 10 to 940 members within weeks. This experience led her to establish the Black Resiliency Project, a Chico-based nonprofit serving Black families and broader communities in rural Northern California, where African Americans comprise less than 3% of the population and face historical marginalization in former sundown towns. The organization operates a Community Hub offering food distribution, case management, school advocacy including help with 504 plans, and harm reduction services for unhoused and substance-affected individuals.

Who is affected

Black families and individuals in Butte, Shasta, and Siskiyou Counties (approximately 5,000 African Americans in Butte County alone)
People of color displaced by the 2018 Camp Fire
At-risk youth in Oroville (previously served through Axiom program)
Parents with special needs children seeking 504 plans
Unhoused people in the region
People struggling with opioids and other drugs
Immigrant and mixed-status families
Haitian immigrant families
Students in Black Student Unions at two Oroville high schools
The Black Resiliency Project staff (five paid positions)

What action is being taken

Operating a Community Hub near downtown Chico on the Esplanade with food distribution and resource sharing
Case managers connecting with community members
Outreach Coordinator Ife Sainte making Tuesday food deliveries to immigrant and other families
Delivering packages with survival supplies (handwarmers, flashlights, gloves, scarves) to unhoused people
Helping parents request 504 plans from school districts through accompaniment services
Attending Black Student Union meetings at two Oroville high schools
Operating "The People's Civic Hub" website providing civic engagement tools
Running BLOC (Black Led Organizations Coalition) to support families from north of Sacramento through Siskiyou County
Making intentional outreach to organizations supporting immigrant communities
Meeting with and providing emotional support to Haitian immigrant families

Why it matters

The Black Resiliency Project addresses the invisibility and marginalization of African American communities in rural Northern California, where they comprise less than 3% of the population and live in areas with legacies of racism, including former sundown towns. The organization's significance extends beyond racial representation—it tackles systemic issues affecting all demographics, including civic disengagement, homelessness, substance abuse, educational advocacy, and immigration challenges. By providing accompaniment rather than mere information, the organization breaks down barriers that phone books and referrals cannot address alone. The work is particularly crucial given that rural Black communities in these counties are "rarely counted in statewide policy conversations," making their needs systematically overlooked. The organization's broader impact stems from the historical role of African Americans in building civil rights infrastructure that established foundations for American democracy, creating what Robert Morton describes as "a floor that everybody else is standing on."

What's next

In the fall, the Community Hub will open for students on their way to school to receive hot chocolate or snacks and "a little encouragement in a pocket"
A series of AI workshops will be offered soon

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint