Lead East Bay, a joint program between Oakland Rising and Oakland Rising Action, identifies, trains and assists social justice leaders in achieving critical public leadership roles throughout our region – elected and appointed positions, as well as staff roles for elected officials and on campaigns.
We focus on nurturing deep community roots and fortifying the network of support and accountability for participants. We believe that no decision-maker – no matter how skilled, passionate or principled – can be effective and build the political will necessary to make change, without these things.
We seek to reverse the trend of public leaders losing their focus on the values, goals and communities that brought them into leadership in the first place, and becoming reactive to political winds and paths of least resistance. Through Lead East Bay, we are building deep and lasting partnerships for grassroots activists while preparing them to succeed as values-based, goals-driven, accountable public decision-makers.
Through this program we gradually expect to see:
- more accountability among elected and appointed officials to communities of color,
- more inclusive decision-making within public agencies (involvement of low-income communities of color in the decisions that affect them),
- more political power for working class communities of color in the East Bay, and
- a leadership development ecosystem that is more focused on the needs of the movement rather than individual leaders.
We believe that getting the right leaders into public leadership roles is critical in tackling the persistent issues in our region, such as the lack of affordable housing, which plague communities of color and contribute to the growing inequality in the Bay Area. We are excited to work with leaders who want to be part of addressing these problems.
LEB leaders meet once a month for training, and also participate in a variety of campaigns across Alameda County. Trainings cover the various ins and outs of running a campaign including field outreach, base building, and fundraising. Additionally, the cohort receives trainings on the political lay of the land and context for the current political climate.
Oakland Rising and our collaborative partners are united in our vision for a city that embodies health, happiness, safety, and equal opportunities for all. Our goal is to create a model of progress and sustainability that showcases the possibilities for American cities in the 21st century. We are committed to dismantling the barriers of racial, economic, political, environmental, and educational inequities that have divided us, and instead, embracing the collective strength found in our city’s diversity. We firmly believe that Oakland can achieve its full potential when every resident, student, and bus rider has the ability to shape our city’s future. This vision is attainable and we are determined to realize it through our collective actions, whether it’s through voting, meetings, or call to actions.
Every year, we release a Vision, Issues, and Policy Platform (VIPP) which outlines the annual policies that we and our eight partner organizations prioritize in order to advance racial, economic, and environmental justice in the Town. Our collaborative’s agenda encompasses a range of critical initiatives, from expanding affordable housing to creating a more equitable democracy through campaign finance reforms. These priorities are designed to provide vital protections and innovative solutions for the most vulnerable members of our community. As we continue our efforts to promote these policies, we hold conversations with thousands of voters, lead and co-host impactful town hall meetings, educate and mobilize residents and voters, and undertake various other initiatives.
To gain a deeper understanding of our commitment to resist, protect, and advance in this political moment, we invite you to explore our 2023 Vision, Issues, and Policy Platform. Together, we are making strides towards a more equitable and just Oakland, and we remain steadfast in our pursuit of change, one vote, one meeting, one march at a time.
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Oakland Rising is a project from our hearts for the people of Oakland. Thank you for your contribution!