February 2014 Newsletter


"We want land, bread, housing, education, clothing, justice and peace" is one of the 10 points used by the Black Panther party that dictated their daily work. This cardinal virtue led the Panthers in organizing their Free Breakfast for School program in 1969. The program rapidly expanded across the country starting from feeding only a handful of kids to serving over 10,000 today.

 

The Panthers believed that children could not reach their full academic potential on empty stomachs. The important effect of breakfast on school performance and overall health and wellness is a correlation that has been studied and proved many times since then.

 

This February, we have an opportunity to commemorate a legacy of justice. Black history is not just about awards and popular accomplishments. It's the history of everyone in the United States with unfortunate stories of inequity but also wonderful triumphs of resistance and survival that we all benefit from today.

 
HOPE Project Leader Spotlight: Aleah Bashir-Bagee and Ayana Edgerly, Youth Leaders
This month, we would like to recognize Aleah Bashir-Bagee and Ayana Edgerly for their contributions to our collaborative.
Ayana Edgerly and Aleah Bashir-Bagee, Youth Leaders

Aleah has been a participant in food justice groups including City Slicker Farms and WOW Farm where she volunteered her time in community gardens. Aleah joined HOPE's Youth Action Board (YAB) to work in other areas of food justice. She is currently working on a project using data collected from a YAB health survey to plan a youth event that will have a positive impact in their community. 

 

As part of HOPE's YAB, Aleah enjoys working with different groups of people and planning meetings that engage youth. Being a part of HOPE has helped Aleah facilitate meetings and guide conversations rather than to overbear them. She has also improved her skills in team-building and working in groups.   

 

Ayana was introduced to HOPE through the Youth Action Board (YAB) last year. HOPE's work around food and social justice issues interested her in joining the youth board. As part of HOPE's YAB, she enjoys working with a diverse group of Oakland youth striving to improve health disparities and education on health outcomes in low-income communities. 

 

Currently, Ayana is working on a project to raise awareness on lifestyle habits of youth and their effect on future health and wellness. During her time at HOPE, Ayana has gained leadership skills and continues to learn new information further assisting her to make a change in Oakland's community.

 

As Youth Leaders, Aleah and Ayana work alongside on planning and co-facilitating

YAB meetings, creating projects for the group, and represent HOPE at events. They also represent HOPE at community events.

BEAT Joins BBBON's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service CLEAN UP Event on G Street
BEAT Co-chair, David Ralston feeling triumphant after a successful cleanup.
On Monday, January 20th 2014, HOPE's Built Environment Action Team (BEAT) participated in the Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Day of Service Clean Up, hosted by Block by Block Organizing Network (BBBON) District 7. BBBON recruited 78 volunteers to collect 130 bags of trash along G Street between 85th and 92nd Avenues in the Elmhurst District of East Oakland.

According to findings of the Neighborhood Block Mapping in 2012 conducted by BEAT and neighborhood residents, dumping on G Street is a major and persistent issue. As BEAT moves forward by taking action to address challenges identified in the planning process,  BBBON will continue to be an important partner, especially around working on addressing dumping in East Oakland.

Many volunteers and organizations showed their support on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and demonstrated that by working together on a common goal, we can make a real difference in a neighborhood. After all that work, the street looks really great. What a change! Many thanks to BBBON and everyone who attended.

 

Global Green Walk Through
In 2013, Global Green USA was awarded a grant through the San Francisco Foundation to explore ways to green the streets and bring healthy food to the lower Elmhurst District of East Oakland.They had previously partnered with HOPE to conduct a sustainability rating system known as LEED-ND sustainable neighborhood assessment of the lower Elmhurst area from 81st Avenue to 92nd Avenue between International Boulevard and G Street. Based on Global Green's analysis, there is enough existing unpaved planter strip area on the sidewalks to grow 1,400 lbs. of food per year on every block. To support residents in harnessing this resource, Global Green will develop a how-to guide for growing food on planter strips.

This Earth Day, HOPE's Built Environment Action Team will launch some demonstration plots with raised beds full of fruits, veggies, and edible herbs. The goal is these planter boxes will provide a way to beautify the neighborhood, reduce illegal dumping, and increase access to healthy food for the community
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School Food FOCUS Conference

From February 6-8, over 200 leaders in the school food movement, including school food service professionals, their community and national partners, government representatives, vendors, funders, and other good food advocates, came together in Oakland for the School Food FOCUS 2014 National Gathering.School Food FOCUS is a national collaborative that leverages the knowledge and procurement power of large school districts to make school meals nationwide more healthful, regionally sourced, and sustainably produced.  Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) is a proud member of this collaboration.

 

The gathering's Welcoming Session and Keynote Address entitled "Transforming School Food Relationships - The Oakland Way!" featured several HOPE Collaborative partners and staff-Sabrina Wu, HOPE Project Director; Jennifer LeBarre and Michelle Oppen from OUSD; Ariane Michas from CAFF; and Diane Woloshin from Alameda County Nutrition Services.  This session focused on the importance of collaboration and told the story of Oakland's journey with school food, with an emphasis on the many pieces of the puzzle and unexpected partnerships necessary for this. The multiple speakers shared their personal stories about how they became engaged in the movement for school change.They also spoke about their roles in changing school food in Oakland, including increasing local procurement, California Thursdays, cooking from scratch in the central kitchen, peer to peer recipe testing with students (which was conducted by HOPE's Youth Action Board), and staff training.

 

The session set an inspirational tone for the remainder of the convening and highlighted the many successes and great work here in Oakland!

 

Stay tuned for more updates from the HOPE Collaborative. You can also visit us at www.hopecollaborative.net, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to find updates.
 

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Since
rely,
HOPE Collaborative
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In This Issue
HOPE Project Leader Spotlight: Aleah Bashir-Bagee and Ayana Edgerly
BEAT Joins BBBON's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service CLEAN UP Event on G Street
Global Green Walk Through
School Food FOCUS Conference
Upcoming Events
 
Oakland Food Policy Council meeting on Thursday, February 20 from 4:30-7:30pm at 1000 Broadway, Suite 500, Room B

HOPE Training of Trainers applications due. Click here for more information and to apply by Fri., February 28 deadline!

HOPE New Member orientation on Wed., March 5 at 221 Oak St., Suite D.
 
Every Saturday from 9:30am-2pm, get fresh and healthy produce in West Oakland at the Freedom Farm Stand behind Brother's Kitchen (300 San Pablo)
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� 2014 HOPE Collaborative

 

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 HOPE is a project of The Tides Center