Did you know that just like here in Oakland, Alameda County continues to grossly overfund policing while not doing enough to address our housing, mental health, and substance use disorder crises? We spoke with Tash Nguyen from the Care First Community Coalition about their work organizing to defund Alameda County’s jail and criminal legal system, so that we can build power towards resourcing life-affirming resources like permanent supportive housing, community-based mental health care, living wage jobs for care workers, and more.

What does investing in community safety really look like? Dr. Frankie Ramos and Xochtil Larios from our partner, Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, joined us to break down Mayor Thao’s proposed budget which increases funding for policing while divesting from community programs and services that we know provide real safety in our neighborhoods.

With my heart wide open full of gratitude and love for the Town that raised me and is currently raising my kids, I am announcing my transition out of my role as Executive Director of Oakland Rising and Oakland Rising Action at the end of December 2023. I stepped into this role with a three-year personal benchmark and a five-year vision for the organization. With vision and guidance from our collaborative partners, allies, family, friends, and community, I set internal and external goals for the organization. I believe I leave the organization strong and in very capable and dedicated hands. 

At a time when Oakland is facing its most significant budget deficit in history, this special election poses a significant financial burden to families and taxpayers. The district funds should be prioritizing the needs of our students, such as supporting teachers, counselors, and librarians, rather than wasted on an unnecessary election. We demand a school board that delivers quality education without any further delays – leaving the seat vacant for almost a year is simply unacceptable.

We spent some time welcoming our new Policy Director Pecolia Manigo, discussing new developments with the OEA teacher’s strike, what’s happening with the City and County Budgets, and explaining what you can expect with the OUSD D5 Board Seat vacancy! Tune in to learn more about how Pecolia’s wealth of experience and deep understanding of community issues will help Oakland Rising continue to build progressive political power in the Town, and more!

We are thrilled to welcome Pecolia Manigo, a remarkable organizer and authentic leader, as our new Political Director! Pecolia brings a wealth of experience, a deep understanding of community issues, and a powerful commitment to driving positive change in Oakland. She is a devoted Black mother of three, whose personal journey has fueled her passion and dedication to creating a more just and equitable education system.

We talked with Kijani Edwards, Oakland ACCE Director about the upcoming opportunities for you to have your voice heard in the development of our city budget at the in-district community budget forums! Tune in to learn more about how you can support the efforts of the...

We talked with Olivia Udovic, Kindergarten Teacher at Manzanita SEED & Oakland Education Association Executive Board Member about the status of the fight in Oakland for safe, stable, racially just, community schools with the resources they need to succeed! Learn more about ongoing negotiations with Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), bargaining demands, and more!

Good news: on April 11th, City Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas and Councilmember Dan Kalb’s proposed plan for an eviction moratorium phaseout was PASSED out of the Community and Economic Development Committee. The proposal now goes to the full Oakland City...