On November 18, 2011, a campus police officer at UC Davis used pepper spray on a row of seated students peacefully protesting. A cell phone video of the incident went viral, made national headlines, and even inspired an internet meme. The most disturbing feature of the video, and a… Read more
When I was in the third grade, I had trouble reading. I mixed up letters and couldn’t spell to save my life. I soon found myself in special education courses. Most of the other students who were tracked in these classes were also poor boys of color. None of us… Read more
One of the most rewarding aspects of my work at the Ella Baker Center is supporting our different programs and campaigns. As the Director of Programs, I often assist events where I see our staff do what we do best: engage those directly wounded by social and economic injustice and… Read more
Urban America is vast and dense. It moves quickly and often continuously. It is diverse, ever-evolving and a source of both economic security and uncertainty. For some it is a utopia where hopes and dreams can be made real and sometimes unmade. It is a thriving source of inspiration, companionship,… Read more
I was floored the first time I heard the students of RAW talent perform. The strength, power and passion emanating from these youths are truly moving. They tell the stories of those who are usually silenced and explore both the roots of poverty and how it impacts them personally.
RAW… Read more
Start a conversation with anyone about the economy and you inevitably begin talking about jobs. Whether it’s the lack of jobs or the seemingly never-ending lines of freshly unemployed men and women across the country. The economy has become the story of our time.
When I thought about writing… Read more
As a young woman of color, I find it hard to stay focused in Oakland. Every night while I do my homework, I hear the rattling of gunshots bouncing off the cement sidewalks. I hear people yelling and crying after getting a call from the hospital, telling them a… Read more
“Don’t be so naïve.” “Don’t be so childish.” “Isn’t that a little….idealistic?”
Sound familiar?
I have been politically engaged since high school when I joined Jewish Youth for Community Action (JYCA), the organization for which I now have the privilege of serving as the director. JYCA is a… Read more
Last night I attended Oakland City Council. Each time I attend my city’s leadership meetings, I learn a lot, I cringe a lot, and I am shocked a lot. The most contentious agenda items of the night- adopting a youth curfew, anti-loitering ordinance, and gang injunction expansion- were sent to… Read more
Oakland politicians have proposed a youth curfew in response to the tragic death of another child. It’s almost a political ritual – every few years we return to this idea that clearing young people off the streets will solve Oakland’s problems of crime and violence.
This debate is… Read more
