Blueprint for Belonging

North Highlands

ATTENTION! Applications are now open to be part of the North Highlands Community Advisory Committee (CAC)!

Do you:

  1. Live in North Highlands?
  2. Want to be an important part of a community-led project?
  3. Want to help guide future planning decisions in your community?
  4. Want to elevate the voice of hard-to-reach members of your community?

If this sounds like you, then apply to be part of our Blueprint for Belonging CAC!

CAC members will be selected through a thorough review and interview process. Applications are open until Friday June 8, 2026 at 5:00pm. To apply, please fill out our application form. This form is also available in the following languages:

All members of the community – regardless of age, religion, ability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, race, color, ancestry, or familial status – are encouraged to apply.

If you would like more information about the project, please see the information below or contact Nathan Serafin, Associate Planner, at serafinn@saccounty.gov if you have any questions.

Project Overview

In the Fall of 2024, Sacramento County Planning and Environmental Review (PER) and Mutual Assistance Network (MAN) were jointly awarded a grant through the Sacramento Area Council of Governments’ (SACOG) Engage, Empower, Implement (EEI) grant program.

The goal of the EEI grant is to “elevate community-based planning by providing funding for city and county partnerships with community-based organizations (CBOs) to create a pipeline of equitable, safe, and sustainable projects within historically marginalized and disinvested communities.” In recognition of this goal, PER and MAN (the Project Team) are engaging in a project that focuses on the North Watt Corridor and the North Highlands community.

Formally named Blueprint for Belonging (BFB), the project outcomes are as follows:

  1. Identify the transportation, mobility, access and safety needs within the North Highlands Environmental Justice community,
  2. Inform the County about community needs and address community concerns, and
  3. Fill information gaps about this community that can inform future planning efforts.

The Project Team will conduct robust community engagement intended to encourage community participation, overcome communication barriers, and foster trust between community members and the County.

Outreach Process

A critical first step in the outreach process is the formation of a Community Advisory Committee (CAC), which will support more intentional, relationship-centered engagement throughout the project. The CAC process is intended to encourage broader participation and prioritize local voices in discussions about future development.

How can I be involved?

If you live within the North Highlands community and are interested in helping the County guide its future planning processes in your area, you are encouraged to apply using our online application form.

The application form is also available in the following langauges:

What are the requirements of being part of the Community Advisory Committee?

If selected, CAC members must:

  1. Be a resident, business owner of, work within, and/or attend a place of worship in the North Highlands Community (ZIP codes 95652, 95660, 95841, or 95842).
  2. Be available for one 90-minute meeting per month from July 2026 to February 2027 (specific dates and times are to be determined). Members will be allowed to attend either online or in-person.
  3. Agree upon and abide by a set of CAC Roles and Responsibilities.

CAC members will be compensated for their time and there will be refreshments provided during meetings.

How will you use the CAC’s feedback?

CAC members will be critical for informing the project’s Community Needs Assessment (CNA), which will be used to guide and prioritize County planning in the North Highlands area. CNAs typically contain information about the community, a summary of community feedback, and a prioritized list of projects that the community wants to see.

Earlier in the project, we heard from community members that they don’t want to see another project that sits on the shelf – that’s why the Project Team intends for this to be involved, intentional, and community-led. Outreach for the BFB project will be an opportunity for community members to take ownership of their role in the planning process.

Can I contribute to the project if I’m not on the CAC?

There will be future events during which community members can provide feedback throughout the outreach process. Please come back to this webpage or be on the lookout for upcoming project updates.

Where can I sign up for project updates?

Sign up using our mailing list form for future updates about the project. We’ll be happy to share our progress with you!

Project Documents

This list of documents will be updated as the project progresses. Please check back for additional updates.

Contact

If you have any questions or want more information, please contact Nathan Serafin, Associate Planner, at serafinn@saccounty.gov.