Community-Driven Vision for Tierra de Rosas Moves Forward: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approves MOU designating Health Equity Rising to convene the Tierra de Rosas Coalition

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SANTA ROSA, Calif. — Health Equity Rising, Roseland community residents and a coalition of partners will lead the exploratory phase for the Tierra de Rosas Civic Lot development. At the heart of this vision, surfaced through the Agenda for Action process, is a community-led priority to co-create and build a culturally responsive, community-owned space for climate emergency support, resource navigation, health and wellness, cultural programming and community connection. 

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If fully realized, Tierra de Rosas could become one of the most significant investments in Roseland in a generation — a civic landmark built with and by the community it serves. 

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“Tierra de Rosas is not a project being done for the Roseland community, it is a vision being built with the Roseland community. The Board’s approval affirms what Health Equity Rising has said all along: that the people closest to the challenges are the ones best positioned to lead the solutions. We enter this feasibility phase with deep responsibility and deeper hope, ready to steward this work alongside our neighbors and partners,” said Adriana Arrizon, Executive Director of Health Equity Rising.

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On Tuesday, July 14, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved a Memorandum of Understanding between Sonoma CAN, fiscal sponsor of Health Equity Rising, and the Sonoma County Development Commission, marking significant progress for the prospective development of the Tierra de Rosas Civic Lot and the community of Roseland.

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“For years, Roseland residents have envisioned a welcoming, inclusive public space where families, friends and neighbors can come together. With continued collaboration with Sonoma Community Action Network and Health Equity Rising on the future Civic Parcel at Tierra de Rosas, we’re one step closer to making that vision a reality. Roseland deserves this investment, and I’m proud to see this project move forward in a way that brings people together, honors the culture and history of the community and strengthens Roseland for generations to come,” said Supervisor Chris Coursey. 

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Residents will lead the nine-month feasibility process of the Tierra de Rosas with Health Equity Rising, ensuring every planning decision reflects the priorities, cultural wisdom and lived experiences of the Roseland community. 

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Health Equity Rising is a community-led coalition working to co-create a healing-centered network of care across Sonoma County by centering community leadership, building culturally responsive organizational infrastructure, and cultivating cross-sector collaboration. 

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Since 2022, Health Equity Rising has been working with Roseland Latine leaders and residents to advance health equity in the communities most impacted by health disparities in Sonoma County, in response to data from the Portrait of Sonoma County 2021 Update, a study which collected and interpreted census data to highlight inequities in Sonoma County. 

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The Agenda for Action, developed by Equity First Consulting, Health Equity Rising, Roseland residents, and key government and funder partners, outlines solutions defined by the people most impacted by systemic inequities. The Agenda for Action will serve as the roadmap for community investment during the development process of Tierra de Rosas.

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Roseland is among the most disinvested neighborhoods in Sonoma County, ranking lowest in Human Development scores countywide. 

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Residents experience their community as an information desert, expressing frustration over a lack of available resources for basic needs or opportunities for their families. Roseland is predominantly Latine (64.8%), with significantly lower median household incomes, higher unemployment and higher rates of rent burden, overcrowding and substandard housing than the county at large — conditions that community residents have documented as direct drivers of toxic stress for families and young children.

 

“[Tierra de Rosas] represents a grand opportunity to have a center of information where we can access resources in the community in a centralized location. Roseland is a place where the population is majority Latino and people with few resources. We are always looking for resources and information far away and this will greatly improve our lives,” said Anastacia Cruz, Roseland resident and Health Equity Rising Action Team participant.

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In partnership with Health Equity Rising and Roseland residents, the Tierra de Rosas Coalition includes representation from community-based organizations, local philanthropy and government aligned around Tierra de Rosas' development using a community-centered approach and a commitment to authentic power-sharing and community governance. 

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For more information, to learn who our partners are or how to get involved, please contact Mariana Raschke, Communications Manager at Health Equity Rising, mraschke@healthequityrising.org.