(FOX40.COM) — The city of Sacramento’s Neighborhood Development Action Team is accepting applications for community ambassadors. These 18 individuals will strive to connect Sacramento’s different cultural neighborhoods.
Jessica Dávalos is a community engagement analyst with the city. She told FOX40 about the meaning behind this effort.
“We are looking for trusted messengers in the community,” Dávalos said.
She called this initiative a “two-way conversation.”
“These are people who are already well connected with their cultural communities,” Dávalos said.
It started as a pilot program back in 2022 with the Stockton Blvd plan. Back then, six representatives were tasked with making sure all nearby residents — regardless of background or language — had a say in what happens in their neighborhood.
The program has since taken off — tripling — from where it started. Now, officials are seeking representatives from the Hmong, Vietnamese, Hispanic, Chinese and Black communities. However, this year, they’re noticing a new trend.
“There are more Ukrainian and Russian community members coming to the city and needing language support,” Dávalos said.
She said her team has seen an increase in 3-1-1 calls with Russian interpretation requests. Therefore, her team is aiming to find at least one Russian representative to serve as an ambassador, too.
According to the city, this program is about hearing what these different communities need, but also streamlining information about how they can get support.
“We will actively be sharing with ambassadors the different resources that we currently have, the different surveys that the city has, the different like grant opportunities are available,” Dávalos said.
She told FOX40 that the program has already helped shed light on the importance of providing translations in city signage.
FOX40 spoke with a man named Michael Sandoval who lives nearby. He said he is proud of his Mexican heritage. He weighed-in on how he feels this program will help address language barriers.
“Translators… like Mexicans I know, like a lot of places that, like, they only speak Spanish,” Sandoval said. He said helping ease accessibility for Spanish speakers would be a game-changer.
Chosen ambassadors will receive a $6,000 stipend. They’ll attend monthly meetings and will serve a 12-month term. Dávalos said a big part of the program is trust and fostering connections — giving residents who may be scared to be involved with the government a safe space to do so.
“We can continue to reach those community members who haven’t been reached before,” Dávalos said.
The city recently extended the application through Nov. 9. They said they are hoping to get candidates of all backgrounds.
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