Unincorporated communities—those without a city hall, police department or planning authority—have limited influence over municipal services or the direction of their neighborhoods. Managed by county boards of supervisors, these communities are often under-resourced and under-prioritized. Without a unifying government, clear borders and self-determination, they’re more likely to have weaker economies, lower rates of civic engagement and poorer health outcomes.

“We’re entirely bordered by cities like San Leandro and Hayward,” says Ana Rasquiza, Director of Community Development at Resources for Community Development (RCD), an affordable housing developer that serves as the backbone organization for the Unincorporated Health and Wealth Initiative, an Accountable Community for Health (ACH) based in Alameda County. “We are literally shaped by other communities, not by our own borders or priorities. This poses a systemic issue—how can we build a vibrant community without a mayor, city council or school district looking out for us?”

Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley, the area’s representative, has made a concerted effort to empower and organize the 180,000 residents of the Eden Area, which includes Ashland-Cherryland and other unincorporated neighborhoods. He helped to form the Ashland Cherryland Healthy Communities Collaborative (ACHCC), which has convened local nonprofits, community leaders and residents. The work is also a key element of the legacy of the late Supervisor Wilma Chan, who advocated for deepened investments in communities like the Eden Area.

RCD has incubated the ACHCC and its group of resident partners for nearly fifteen years, most recently adopting the ACH model to help shift toward collective action and stronger advocacy.

With a new governance model, and in close partnership with Eden United Church of Christ and RCD, this ACH envisions true systems change. Goals include the establishment of a county Office of Unincorporated Services to increase oversight of local investments and the development of a special local budgeting process to ensure that local tax dollars go toward resident-identified priorities.

The ACH will also create an ‘Eden Empowerment Hub’ that will train a workforce of community health workers, promotoras and providers to connect with residents and activate them to take charge of their health and the future of their neighborhood. An element of this effort will integrate the State of California’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative and partner with the county Office of Education to bring mental health and wellness coaches to local schools.

“I’m really excited for this hub,” says Rasquiza. “It will be one of the most time-consuming elements of our work, but it’ll have a huge impact on economic empowerment, workforce development, mental health and community wellness. By helping residents navigate the community supports available to them, it will empower them to engage within their community and to find systemic solutions that improve their health.”

In the coming years, the Unincorporated Health and Wealth Initiative will also work to keep residents in the driver’s seat while staying nimble, ensuring the community can navigate new challenges—such as environmental justice and climate resilience—as they arise.

For more information, visit rcdhousing.org/community-development.