We’re thrilled to honor several people and organizations who embody bold, innovative, values-based transformational leadership with our Townie Awards. We hope you can help us celebrate all of the positive impacts that our honorees and all racial, economic and environmental justice activists, organizations and other leaders in our community continue to make!

With the current national political climate, voters in Oakland and beyond are taking pride in advancing local policy that pushes back against the national right-wing agenda.They also sent a clear message to the Mayor and City Councilmembers for their support of a community-first budget and policy that prioritizes people over profit-driven development.

It is with excitement and gratitude that we announce a package of projects to deepen the effectiveness of civic engagement across the Oakland Rising collaborative and to expand financial support from individuals through the generous support of The San Francisco Foundation. We extend a sincere thank you to TSFF for its investment in bringing these bold new ideas to life.

Check out the 2017 Vision, Issues and Policy Platform to learn how we resist, protect and advance in this political moment.

With the onslaught of federal attacks on working class people of color and immigrants, protecting our communities and advancing policies rooted in racial and economic justice is more important than ever.

We are now one step closer to securing the critical reappointment of Jahmese Myres, which would guarantee that community voice will continue to have a strong seat on the Planning Commission as she advocates for more affordable housing and public land that serves the public good. But we haven’t won yet….

Corporations currently benefit from a loophole in Prop 13 that allows them to make billions of dollars off of tax cuts. This is lost revenue that could be used to fund our schools, health clinics, and other local services.

Want more affordable housing? Public land that serves the public good? It’s crucial that the Mayor and City Council HEAR FROM YOU NOW! Find out how to take action.

This Monday, May 1st, we will leave our jobs for the day to stand up for workers’ rights! And by workers, we mean all workers – undocumented and unpaid workers included. Our mission here at Oakland Rising is to mobilize and educate low-income people of color primarily in the flatlands of East and West Oakland.

In June, Lead East Bay’s leaders will start training for their future positions on local boards and commissions or for elected public offices.