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James Herard
Executive Director
I am a lifelong, committed, professional political and community organizer. I have over 15 years of professional experience moving community members and community stakeholders into collective action. I have held positions of increasing responsibility over the years, and in each, I have successfully grown the power of the organization for which I have been employed. When I am not advocating for working people, I volunteer my time at food pantries helping feed underserved communities.
Devin Williams
Program Coordinator
Devin Williams, now a program coordinator at Lift Up Contra Costa, has dedicated his life to fighting for justice for all, particularly in the realm of housing. He realized the shortcomings of democracy during the pandemic of the 2020 and has since worked tirelessly to ensure everyone has access to safe and habitable housing. As a community organizer with ACCE he fought alongside tenants for protections like rent control and tenant anti harassment ordinances.
In the wake of the 2023 revelations of the Antioch Police racist text messaging corruption scandal, Devin also fought for the community as a staunch advocate with the group Reimagine Antioch to call for the firing and decertification of all officers involved and the establishment of a police oversight commission where he currently sits a commissioner for the city of Antioch. Devin works and fights every day for contra costa residents and Californians alike.