Alameda County, Know Your District Attorney!
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What is the Role and Power of the District Attorney?
Alameda County is our home. We all want safe neighborhoods for our families. And we know that more incarceration and punishment does not keep us safe.
The District Attorney has tremendous power to impact the lives of thousands of people, their families, and entire communities. If someone is accused of committing a crime, the DA can decide if criminal charges are filed, how severe those charges are, and whether to recommend a diversion program instead.
The District Attorney is elected by voters. That means we can elect leaders who want to transform our criminal justice system – from one that further criminalizes us to one that provides compassionate alternatives to incarceration.
Voters have the power to support leaders who promote alternatives to incarceration, end the practice of charging youth as adults, and fight for investments in our community. What keeps us safe is deep investment in prevention – mental health services, drug treatment, support for victims, reentry etc – as well as long-term supports such as better schools and economic opportunities.
What Cities Make Up Alameda County?
Alameda County is made up of a total of 14 corporated cities and six unincorporated cities.
The incorporated cities are Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro, and Union City.
The unincorporated communities are Ashland, Castlewood, Castro Valley, Cherryland, Fairview, Happy Valley, Hillcrest Knolls, San Lorenzo, and Sunol.
Take Action! Check out our zine!
Check out our zine to learn more about the role and the power of the Alameda County District Attorney!
Share the zine on social media to help us get the word out about this new resource.
Visit alcoda.org to learn more about our current Alameda County DA Pamela Price’s progressive platform and how she is transforming the criminal justice system in our county.
About the Art, Culture & Democracy Project
We launched our Arts, Culture & Democracy project with the help of talented Bay Area illustrator, Valeria Olguin, and animator, Kevin Ford who joined our team this year. Artists and cultural workers possess the incredible power to shape minds and the political landscape, and shift the narrative. Valeria and Kevin created fun and engaging materials to help educate and mobilize our neighbors who might not be politically engaged, but are profoundly impacted by the system. What better way to get community members involved than by creating fun and relatable characters and storylines that help them understand how policy impacts our everyday lives?
Our artists play a pivotal role in creating illustrations and animations for an array of materials including zines, postcards, posters, tote bags, and digital ads. As we attend community events and knock on doors of neighbors, these will help us engage our immigrant, BIPOC, youth, and formerly-incarcerated community members about crucial political education campaigns, including the role of our elected district attorney who holds the power to have the system move away from incarceration.
Meet the Artists
Valeria Olguin, Illustrator – Valeria Olguin is an accomplished artist and passionate community organizer who has dedicated her life and artwork to combating the issues affecting her community, her family, and herself. As a person with many intersecting identities, her work revolves around crafting a world where our communities are truly represented and their stories are given a voice. And as she puts it – “using art as a tool with the goal of liberation.” Valeria’s expertise in community organizing with undocumented and Spanish-speaking communities ensures that our assets will be accessible to a wide range of hard-to-reach community members. Check out Valeria’s illustration used in our digital ad for our Democracy Dollars program which played a pivotal role in securing funds for the program in the Oakland budget for 2026.
Kevin Ford, Animator – As an accomplished and versatile professional, Ford holds a dual Bachelor’s degree in Media Arts & Animation and Visual Design from renowned institutions. Proficient in various Adobe programs, Ford’s work reflects a meticulous eye for photo retouching and image multiplication, consistently delivering outstanding results. Certified as a drone pilot, Ford’s extensive experience in capturing captivating recreational and commercial videos showcases his expertise in multimedia. With a hard work ethic and an enduring passion for media, Ford is poised to bring valuable contributions to any organization. Hailing from San Francisco, his early engagement in art camps and classes speaks to a childhood characterized by a love for vibrant creativity, demonstrated by coloring entire books and crafting original cartoons and animations.
Thanks to our funders for believing in the power of art and culture:
