Dear Friend,
On Tuesday, it happened again in America. My heart breaks for the parents who lost their beloved children in Uvalde, Texas. We must stop this relentless trauma on our communities and take significant action to limit access to guns right now. We echo the words of Warriors coach Steve Kerr, whose powerful call to action before Tuesday's game everybody should watch: Enough.
Welcome to the Mayor’s Weekly Briefing, your weekly Oakland news roundup. We've heard that some subscribers did not received our last two newsletters. You can read our May 19th issue here, and our May 12th issue here.
In solidarity,
—Libby
MAYOR LIBBY SCHAAF
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Oakland Converts Another Hotel for Unsheltered |
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Keep it coming! Last week, Oakland was awarded $11.1 million by the state through Project Homekey funding to acquire and convert the Inn by the Coliseum motel into housing for people experiencing chronic homelessness. These 36 units are also close public transportation, the Coliseum Public Market, and Oakland’s historic Fruitvale District, and will begin to welcome residents later this year. As we continue to work together at the state and city levels to end the homelessness crisis, Oakland is grateful for Governor Newsom’s partnership with Homekey, which is helping us move unsheltered residents into safety and services quickly and back on a path to permanent supportive housing.
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Dedicated Oaklanders Needed: Join a Commission |
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Oakland’s volunteer Police Commission is currently the most powerful and independent Police Commission in the country. Citizen oversight of the Oakland Police Department is crucial in maintaining public confidence that allegations of misconduct are taken seriously, that investigation are thorough, transparent, and fair, and offenders are held accountable when appropriate. Right now, the Oakland Police Commission is accepting applications until June 30th, and interested applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
But the Police Commission is not the only commission seeking dedicated Oaklanders! Please visit the City's Boards and Commissions website to see a full list of these citizen-led bodies which are always looking for members, such as:
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Poetry and Activism: Newest Youth Poet Laureate |
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Congratulations to Oakland's new Youth Poet Laureate Nadia Elbgal! Nadia is an 18 year-old Oakland resident, a senior at Berkeley High, an active member of her community, and an activist for Middle Eastern and Muslim communities. We also commend Vice Laureate Kaylan Black, as well as all of the talented finalists: Dara Kashayar, Geronimo Valenzuela, Rina Huang, Xander Timmons, and Vincent Ng.
Says Nadia of her hometown:
Oakland is a passionate city full of people pushing to make changes that benefit the community. I write to do my part in that.
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Free Breakfast + Lunch Continues Thru Summer |
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The City of Oakland’s Summer Food Service Program is resuming next Tuesday, May 31, with the addition of new partner sites and locations. More than 35 sponsored youth-serving sites throughout Oakland – including faith and community-based organizations – will offer free lunches, with breakfast also available at some sites. All kids 18 and under, and adults with disabilities enrolled in a school program can receive meals. Here's the full roster of Summer Food Service Program sites as of May 31. Free food distribution sites can also be found by using the CA Meals for Kids app. |
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Let's go Oakland! We are excited to cheer on the Oakland Soul, our new women's professional soccer team. The Soul will play their first season in Spring 2023, and you can place a deposit on season tickets now!
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COMMUNITY EVENTS AND RESOURCES |
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- Calling all festival organizers! The City of Oakland is now offering grants to support festivals and festival culture in our community, helping to highlight the cultural expressions, stories, histories, and heritage of our many communities and neighborhoods. Applications are being accepted through July 7, with a how-to-apply webinar on June 2.
- The deadline to participate in the Oakland City Challenge has been extended to June 1! The City Challenge calls on the public to submit proposals for how to address our city's biggest challenges like homelessness, violent crime, and abandoned vehicles and dumping. Oakland needs you!
- Starting June 1, BART will be taking submissions for a short story contest, with story finalists to be featured on BART's website and in BART platforms. Find more details and submit your story here, and read the Chronicle's coverage of the contest here.
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High School students can pre-register to vote at ages 16 & 17 and be ready to vote at 18! Schools are encouraged to help students become civically aware and engaged. Register here!
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Attention problem-solvers: we need YOU to propose ideas to tackle homelessness, abandoned vehicles and illegal dumping, and violent crime in Oakland for the City Challenge Oakland. Visit the website for a chance to have your idea selected and brought to life.
- The City’s Economic & Workforce Development Department has launched a permanent business support program in Oakland’s neighborhoods. The Neighborhood Business Assistance program has added a sixth location and opened appointment dates for Oakland entrepreneurs and business owners to get advice and support. Appointments can be booked online at this link or by calling (510) 238-7398.
- REMINDER: Even though the federal moratorium has ended, Oakland's eviction moratorium remains in place. Find rental resources here.
OPPORTUNITIES
- Are you a social entrepreneur looking to grow your organization? The American Heart Association is offering a social business and non-profit accelerator program with 6 weeks of MBA-style training. Applications are due June 3. Find more information here.
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This summer, several Bay Area community colleges are offering free or low-cost summer learning opportunities for high school and middle school students. Find more info here.
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The Girl's Equity Movement is accepting applications to their 2022-2023 Refined GEMs Program cohort in the US. Girls Equity Movement aims to catalyze change by equipping young women with the networking, training, and leadership skills they need to change the world. 9th-12th grade high school girls are encouraged to apply here!
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Reading Partners San Francisco Bay Area is recruiting 42 AmeriCorps members to serve for 11 months during the 2022-23 school year in various positions to support students, schools, and communities. The term starts August 23rd - apply now to start your work in education and hear back with a final decision within 7 business days.
- The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration is looking to fill its field offices across the state with full-time entry-level hires. View the job posting directly here.
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Interested in serving your city and contributing to a holistic, comprehensive, vision of public safety? Consider a career with Oakland Police Department at opdjobs.com
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Are you committed to fair housing and rent regulation in Oakland? The Housing, Residential Rent and Relocation Board (aka the Rent Board) enforces the Rent Adjustment Ordinance and fosters fair housing for a diverse population of renters, hears rent adjustment appeals, and develops regulations for the Rent Adjustment Program. This is a great opportunity to learn more about rent regulation in Oakland as well as serve the community! You can learn more and fill out an online application here.
- The City of Oakland is looking for qualified applicants to fill positions in our Planning & Building Department. Work with our experienced staff in the Strategic Planning or Zoning Divisions or our Digital Unit. Learn more and apply here.
- Oakland residents have access to 5,000 free online courses in multiple languages to help advance your career of prepare to return to work. Learn more here.
- Oakland Unified School District is hiring for a variety of roles! Find out more at the OUSD Jobs Portal.
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AC Transit is hiring bus operators. Jobs start at $22.11/hour after paid training. Learn more about further opportunities here.
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