Oakland Community Groups to Hold Citywide Public Action with City Officials to Address Health Crisis Posed by Illegal Dumping
WHAT: Faith in Action East Bay, Block By Block Organizing Network, EBAYC, three long-time Oakland-based community organizations dedicated to building an Oakland in which every person thrives, are partnering with Allen Temple Baptist Church to hold a public action to address the citywide health crisis of illegal dumping.
WHO: Community leaders and hundreds of residents from schools, congregations, and neighborhoods throughout Oakland will call on public officials to implement comprehensive, concrete, and sustainable solutions to the illegal dumping crisis.
Public officials include (partial list of invited and confirmed guests): Office of the Mayor; Caroll Fife, Oakland City Council Member, District 3; Noel Gallo, Oakland City Council Member, District 5; Rowena Brown, Oakland City Council Member, At Large (confirmed); Oakland City Council members and staff; Josh Rowan, City of Oakland Interim Director of Public Works (confirmed); Nate Miley, Supervisor, District 4, Alameda County (invited); Assemblymember Mia Bonta (staff) (invited); Rebecca Kaplan, Project Manager, City of Oakland, Illegal Dumping and Blight (confirmed); Michael Houston, Auditor, City of Oakland (confirmed); Erin Armstrong, MBA/MPP | Director of Policy & Strategic Initiatives, Office of Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley, District 4 (confirmed). Dr. Clifford Thmpson OUSD D7 Board of Directors, (confirmed), Ms. Patrice Berry, OUSD D5 Board of Directors (confirmed)
WHEN: Monday, January 12, from 6:00 – 7:45 p.m.
WHERE: Allen Temple Baptist Church, 8501 International Blvd, Oakland, CA 94621
WHY: For nearly a decade community organizations have been calling on the city to address the illegal dumping crisis, which undermines the health, safety, and well-being of Oakland children and families and undermines efforts to build a thriving and economically vibrant city. Our children and residents cannot wait any longer. With Mayor Barbara Lee’s rollout of the Keep the Town Clean Initiative, now is the time for the City of Oakland to partner with the community to advance systemic solutions to this public health emergency.
VISUALS: Photo and video opportunities, including testimony from impacted youth and adult residents; research report, including photos detailing causes, consequences, and costs of illegal dumping.
BACKGROUND ON ORGANIZATIONS:
Faith in Action East Bay [FIAEB]: Faith in Action East Bay is a multi-faith and multi-racial organizing network made up of more than 23 congregations and over 25,000 families. Since 1972, Oakland Community Organization (OCO), now Faith in Action East Bay, has empowered leaders to advance systemic change, racial justice, and economic equity in Oakland.
Allen Temple Baptist Church: For 106 years, Allen Temple has served as a bright beacon of faith, hope, and love beyond its four walls, and is committed to sharing the love of God and the message of Good News throughout the world. We welcome people of all ages and cultural backgrounds as we joyfully celebrate worship and fellowship, and carry out ministries of evangelism, discipleship, education, community outreach, and global missions. Allen Temple’s holistic, prophetic, and social justice ministries address the needs of the whole person as well as the whole community. Dr. Jacqueline A. Thompson is Senior Pastor.
Block By Block Organizing Network [BBBON]: Block By Block Organizing Network (BBBON) is an Oakland political and electoral organization formed in 2010. BBBON is a not-for-profit, city-wide, district-based organization of Oakland residents. The members are dedicated to the betterment of Oakland through community partnerships and support for progressive public leadership. BBBON is a member of the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club.
East Bay Asian Youth Center [EBAYC]: East Bay Asian Youth Center [EBAYC] is a 50-year-old non-profit youth development organization dedicated to empowering young people to live safe and socially-responsible lives. We serve over 2,500 Black, Latino, and Southeast Asian young people who live or go to school in Oakland’s San Antonio, Eastlake, and Chinatown communities. Our integrated place-based strategy includes: 1) intensive life coaching/case management to young people deeply impacted by violence, exploitation, and trauma; 2) summer and after-school learning programs, one-stop youth and family wellness centers, and parent/youth leadership at eight neighborhood schools; and 3) organizing families to improve their schools and neighborhoods.