Genoa Barrow

Sacramento County cut foster care entries by 31% for Black children, through community-led efforts tackling systemic racism and rebuilding trust.

Transracial adoption remains a complex and often debated subject, one that experts Bryan Post and Rhonda Roorda are tackling head-on.

“The system is not set up for us,” says Essence Graves, a longtime social worker.

Tamala Floyd, shaped by childhood trauma, became a therapist to heal others. She advocates for ancestral healing and tailored care, especially for Black women and mothers.

Tony Francis (97) argues that the “powers that be” don’t pay enough attention to the health needs of Black seniors. He and his three nonagenarian siblings credit their longevity to close family ties.

Former legislator Cheryl Brown is the two-time chair of the California Commission on Aging. She took part in the advisory committee for Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Master Plan for Aging and continues to serve on its Equity Advisory Committee on Aging and Disability. She discusses California's master plan on aging, and notes that “equity is about ensuring that we intentionally uplift the voices of people who are underrepresented, underserved and unheard." That includes communities of color.

Californians are living longer and the state’s aging population has forced policymakers to focus more on the growing ranks of older adults as they plan for the state’s future. Black experts in the field want to ensure that African American seniors aren’t left out of the conversation. Representation in research and recruitment in academia matters, but these remain huge unsolved challenges.