|
|
District 6 Matters: Leaning Into The Moment
Oakland City Challenge, Earth Day Service Projects, & Personal Reflection
From the Office of Councilmember Loren Taylor
|
|
Can you believe we are already at the end of April? Admittedly, this year (as all years do) is bringing another unique set of both good and bad moments. My devastation about the 35 lives we have lost is inadvertently intermingled with joy from the positive impact we are having on Oaklanders through our current community initiatives. Yes, there are many issues we are working to solve, and I am confident we can solve them together! That is our only path forward. It is through community that we can achieve our highest aspirations, even those that may seem implausible at first. I am ready to lean into the moment. Will you join me? |
|
A great first step is to share your thoughts via City Challenge Oakland! Through May 6, the City of Oakland, Northeastern University, Oakland Fund for Public Innovation, Mills College and The Gov Lab is jotting down ideas on how to tackle some of Oakland's toughest problems – homelessness, violent crime, abandoned vehicles and illegal dumping. Your feedback will be critical in uplifting solutions directly from residents and those on the ground. Make sure you and neighborhood's voice is heard by visiting their website and sharing this information with your friends.
The next step would be showing up for an Earth Day service project! This weekend, I am honored to be participating in multiple projects happening throughout Oakland. From tree planting to picking up trash, our collective mission will be to give back to this world that gives so much to us. There is no shortage of community events, so if you are interested in volunteering please see Section 4 below.
While we endeavor to serve others, we must also not forget about ourselves. The root of every great community are members, who are happy, healthy and whole. In order to reach our highest potential, we must take time to self-heal and recenter our lives. Many Oaklanders did so as part of their religious practice this month. Happy Easter, Passover, and Ramadan for those who celebrated those religious holidays. Learn more about my commemorative resolution recognizing these holidays in Section 2 below.
I look forward to not only seeing but experiencing what we accomplish!
|
|
Inside this newsletter you'll find the following information:
- COVID-19 Updates
- Honoring Ramadan, Passover & Easter
- Media Mentions
- Upcoming Neighborhood Association Meetings
- Celebrating Earth Day
- Community Updates & Resources
|
|
Yours in Service of Oakland,
|
|
|
|
Loren M. Taylor, Councilmember
Oakland - District 6
|
|
|
A. Face Coverings Now Voluntary For AC Transit Riders
Effective Wednesday, April 20, AC Transit will implement a voluntary face mask policy on all of their buses. Riders are encouraged to follow the guidance of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Transportation Security Administration, which currently recommends transit riders to wear face coverings. AC Transit will continue to have personal protective equipment dispensers at the entrance of each bus, including face mask and hand sanitizers.
For more information, please visit the AC Transit website or call (510) 891-4777.
|
|
B. Do's & Dont's For Daily Life
As we continue to reopen our economy, it is important that we keep these common-sense safety tips in mind to protect ourselves and others –
Do:
- Get vaccinated and boosted when eligible
- Wear a mask where required and on public transit
- Turn on exposure notifications on your phone
- Get tested if you’re sick
- Honor mask rules in place at a private business
- Get tested if required by your workplace
- Wear a mask when you travel
Don't:
- Lose your proof of vaccination
- Think you can’t get the virus or pass it on because you feel well
- Assume everyone is vaccinated
- Expect all COVID-19 rules everywhere to be lifted
- Travel into the U.S. without proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test
- Attend large events if you’re sick
- Travel if you’re sick
Click here to read more about California's current safety measures.
|
|
2. Honoring Ramadan, Passover & Easter
|
|
During the month of April, we see those of Islamic, Jewish and Christian faiths commemorate sacred moments of reflection, rebirth, service and more. This year, I had the honor of bringing forward legislation with Councilmember Kalb recognizing Oakland's beautiful religious diversity. Regardless of your faith, or lack thereof, I encourage everyone to take this moment to give themselves onto others. Download and read the full legislation by clicking here.
|
|
A. Paul Quinn College, a Texas HBCU, has its eyes on Oakland
“We’ve got the Peralta Colleges, Mills College, Holy Names, Samuel Merritt. It’s exciting when we look at how the broader educational institutions can be strengthened with an additional player like Paul Quinn, an HBCU,” said City Councilmember Loren Taylor, who supports the effort to bring a Paul Quinn campus to Oakland. “The gap we’re talking about filling is the low enrollment of Black people into higher education.”
|
|
B. Mayor Schaaf Announces Amazon’s Commitment to Support Oakland Youth
Councilmember Loren Taylor joined Councilmembers Noel Gallo, Treva Reid, and Mayor Libby Schaaf to announce Amazon’s support of Oakland organizations that promote a healthy and equitable culture for students and their families. The three local non-profits that will each receive $100,000 grants from Amazon are East Oakland Youth Development Center, Oakland Promise, and Tech Exchange.
|
|
4.Upcoming Neighborhood Association Meetings
|
|
Would you like to join your neighbors to build a stronger sense of community and help tackle neighborhood challenges? If so, join your next neighborhood association meeting! (Also known as a Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council - NCPC)
|
|
- Arroyo Viejo Association of Neighbors | Saturday, April 23 at 10:30am
-
Neighborhood Service Coordinator: Judith Christopher, [email protected]
-
District 6 Liaison: Emilia Salto-Ordaz, [email protected]
- 27X Melrose High Hopes | Wednesday, April 27 at 7:00 pm
-
Neighborhood Service Coordinator: Jason Wallace, [email protected]
-
District 6 Liaison: Lina Hancock, [email protected]
- 30Y Eastmont Hills Neighborhood Council | Wednesday, April 27 at 6:30 pm
-
Neighborhood Service Coordinator: Judith Christopher, [email protected]
-
District 6 Liaison: Emilia Salto-Ordaz, [email protected]
|
|
Please email your respective Neighborhood Service Coordinator for
additional information, including meeting log-in information
|
|
A. We Lead Ours' (WELO's) Earth Day Rock A Park Co-Sponsored by Councilmember Taylor
Kick off your Earth Day celebration today, April 22 at Arroyo Viejo Park, 7701 Krause Ave! From 9am to noon, we will be removing litter and planting trees with We Lead Ours and Comerica Bank. Light refreshments will be served to volunteers. No registration required.
Can't make it on Friday? Join us on Saturday, April 23! Same place, same time. For questions, please call (510) 409-8275.
|
|
B. Paint The Town Peace Mural
Also, today (Friday) from 2:30-5:30pm, you can join my office, Oakland's Department of Transportation, Eastside Art Alliance, Safe Passages, and an incredible collective Eastmont neighbors as we paint a peace mural at Parker Elementary and Middle School. Permission slips will be required on site for minors, and volunteer painters are encouraged to wear old shoes and clothing.
For more information about this project, including how to get involved, please call 510-593-5592.
|
|
C. Oakland Earth Day 2022 with the Rainbow Community Neighborhood Council
On Saturday, April 23, our office is excited to join the 27Y Neighborhood Council and a host of other community partners as we work to transform a vacant lot at 6015 Bancroft Ave, into a parklet. We need all hands on deck between 9:30am and noon to help us plan California native plants throughout the site.
|
|
D. 26XY Neighborhood Council, Oakland Unity Middle School & Community Policing Advisory Board – Earth Day Clean-Up
Calling all East Oakland residents! If you are looking for a great way to meet your neighbors, while doing a good deed for the community, make sure you come out to this collaborative clean-up from the 26XY Neighborhood Council, Oakland Unity Middle School (OUMS) & the Community Policing Advisory Board. On Saturday, April 23, you can meet them at OUMS, 1180 70th Ave at 10am. Lunch will be served at noon. No registration required, just show-up.
|
|
E. Celebrate Trail's Day with the Bay Area Trails Collaborative
This year’s Celebrate Trails Day in Oakland will be an opportunity for Bay Area Trails Collaborative (BATC) partners and supporters to meet in person for the first time since before the pandemic, experience some of the trails that comprise the Bay Area regional trail network, hear from community-based organizations working on trail projects and other environmental justice issues in the East Bay, and toast a beverage with each other at the end of the day.
Come for the whole day or join for just a portion. A map of the event can be found at this link.
|
|
F. Say Bye Bye To Your Mattress This Earth Day
This Earth Day, I am pleased to offer you easy opportunities to love our planet. One simple way to divert waste from landfills is through the Mattress Recycling Council’s Bye Bye Mattress program.
This program, whenever possible, leverages the existing solid waste infrastructure. For many Californians, this means your mattress is being diverted from waste to recycling whether your retailer takes it back with your new purchase, your city or a waste hauler picks it up at curbside or you drop it off at a participating location. Visit their website for more information.
-
Este Día de la Tierra, yo estoy complacido de ofrecerle oportunidades fáciles para amar nuestro planeta. Una forma sencilla de desviar los desechos de los vertederos es a través del programa Bye Bye Mattress del Mattress Recycling Council.
Este programa, siempre que sea posible, aprovecha la infraestructura de desechos sólidos existente. Para muchos californianos, esto significa que su colchón se está desviando de la basura al reciclaje, ya sea que su minorista lo recoja con su nueva compra, su ciudad o un transportista de basura lo recoja en la acera o lo deje en una ubicación participante.
|
|
6. Community Updates & Resources
|
|
A. Join Our Peace Caravan To City Hall
This Saturday, April 23, Oakland residents will also come together to call for the end of the violence our community is experiencing. Meet us at Liberation Park, 7101 Foothill Blvd. at 11am to join the caravan, which will then travel to Frank Ogawa Plaza for a subsequent rally.
Look forward to seeing you there!
|
|
B. Honoring Victims' Rights Week 2022
The Christopher L. Jones Foundation Services Inc. in partnership with the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, will host two events this year in celebration of Victims' Rights Week (April 24-30).
The first event is a press conference on Friday, April 29, at 11am. Meet them at OPD headquarters, 455 7th Street, as they discuss how to end Alameda County's senseless violence.
On Saturday, April 30, they will also host a community event, where they will release balloons in remembrance of the county's homicide victims. Meet them at the Lake Merritt Children's Memorial Statue at 11:30am, where they will also serve lunch. Email [email protected] for more information.
|
|
C. UPDATE: Black Men – This Career Expo Is For You
On Saturday, April 30 from 8:00am–3:00pm the 100 Black Men of the Bay Area is hosting a career expo at Laney College. The event will feature employers from the education, financial services, information technology, law, real estate, business, sport and entertainment fields.
if you're interested in registering a group or as an individual, please email [email protected] for a registration link.
|
|
D. Are You An East Bay Non-Profit Looking for Funding Support?
The East Bay Anti-Displacement Collective wishes to support community-based, 501(c)3 organizations and collectives that seek to empower residents to stay and thrive in the East Bay. They have two opportunities for funding: small gap funding grants for organizations planning and responding to emergent community issues. If need is demonstrated, organizations may be invited to provide more information for a larger award.
Applications are due April 30th by email submission. For more information, please visit tinyurl.com/EBADFund.
|
|
E. Save The Date – Celebrating 50 Years Of The Native Health American Health Center
On Saturday, September 24, the Native American Health Center will have its golden anniversary powwow at Merritt College, 12500 Campus Drive. Join them for this free event, as they host a dance contest, food vendors, and more!
|
|
Who do I call for...
-
General social service issues: 211
-
The City’s 311 phone line and OAK311 website continues to be a resource to request routine maintenance and report urgent infrastructure issues
|
|
Question or Concerns? Contact The District 6 Team:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
