TRANSFORMING VALLEJO: Faith in the Public Square

This month, we're taking the INNOVAT3 Connected Communities Meetup on the road — and we couldn't think of a better destination than Vallejo.

Vallejo is the last affordable waterfront city in the Bay Area. It is one of the most diverse cities in America. And it sits at a genuine crossroads — one where the choices made now will determine whether this community rises on its own terms, or gets swept up in the same wave of displacement that has reshaped so much of the Bay Area already.

For those who care about the future of the region, Vallejo may be our last real opportunity to see a Bay Area community develop in a way that lifts everyone — not just those who can afford to stay.

Vallejo's faith and civic leaders have been fighting for the soul of this city for decades. What's happening now is not a new story — it's a new chapter, and the momentum is building.

Faith leaders, elected officials, law enforcement, business leaders, and nonprofits are working together in ways that are producing real results — including the rescue of a 15-year-old girl from a trafficking situation within days of a new collaborative initiative launching. That rescue didn't happen because of a government program. It happened because the right people were finally in the same room.

This gathering is an invitation to go deeper — and to be part of that room yourself.

This is a conversation, not a lecture — and we bias toward action. If you want to help solve the Bay Area's biggest challenges, this is the room you want to be in. We hope you'll join us.

Through a moderated roundtable discussion, we will explore — and we want your perspective on:

• How people of faith and good will can work together with civic and business leaders to create communities where everyone can flourish
• What it looks like when faith leaders step fully into the public square — not just to speak or protest, but to serve and build
• Could the faith community be a catalyst that brings unity instead of division — what would that actually look like on the ground, locally?
• Real examples of faith-civic collaboration already producing measurable change in Solano County
• How you can get involved right now!

Cassandra James is the Solano County Supervisor for District 1, representing Vallejo — the first millennial elected to the Board. A trailblazing civic leader, she has spent nearly two decades advocating for housing equity and the protection of vulnerable populations. She was a primary force in launching the Solano County Movement Against Human Trafficking (SCMAHT), bringing together government, faith communities, nonprofits, and law enforcement around a shared mission. Her leadership reflects the conviction that true community transformation requires everyone at the table.

Vanessa Russell is the founder and executive director of Love Never Fails, dedicated to ending human trafficking and supporting survivors. Widely recognized for her expertise in early childhood development and the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), her work demonstrates how unaddressed trauma can predispose individuals to exploitation — and how prevention and stable community support can interrupt that cycle.

Pastor Anthony Summers is the founder and executive director of Healthy Vallejo, a faith-based nonprofit that has employed more than 95 at-risk youth in just three years — the vast majority of whom have gone on to college, vocational careers, or small businesses. He is also the founding pastor of Impact Bible Ministries, a community-rooted church he established in Vallejo in 2006.

Pastor Derry Moten is the senior pastor and co-founder of Abundant Life Worship Center, a non-denominational fellowship in Vallejo he established alongside his wife Tammie in 2013 after more than 25 years in ministry. A true social entrepreneur, Derry also serves in senior leadership at the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD). A Marine Corps veteran with a Master of Education degree from the University of Illinois, his life embodies the conviction that faith and civic leadership are not separate callings — they are one. He serves as the local host for this gathering.

📅 Friday, April 24 12:00–2:30 PM Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum (historic Old City Hall) 734 Marin St, Vallejo, CA 94590

🥪 Lunch will be provided.

⚠️ Space is intentionally limited to keep this gathering intimate and the conversation meaningful. We encourage you to register early.

🚗 Getting Here Free street parking is available on Marin St in front of the building.

⛴ Coming from San Francisco? The SF Bay Ferry runs direct from the San Francisco Ferry Building to Vallejo in about 60 minutes — and the Vallejo Ferry Terminal is just a 13-minute walk from the venue. A scenic and stress-free alternative to driving across the bridge. Check schedules at sanfranciscobayferry.com.

The INNOVAT3 Connected Communities Meetup brings together faith leaders, civic leaders, innovators, social entrepreneurs, and community builders who believe collaboration is the key to solving the Bay Area's biggest challenges.

We are bringing this gathering to Vallejo because the story unfolding here matters — not just to Vallejo, but to the entire region. Come ready to listen, to share, and to be part of what comes next.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Ted Hahs | INNOVAT3