OAKLAND WORKS BEST WHEN IT WORKS WITH

EVERYONE

BY KITTY KELLY EPSTEIN

JUNE 17 2011








OAKLAND WORKS BEST WHEN IT WORKS WITH EVERYONE

JUNE 17, 2011

By Kitty Epstein

Will Oakland youngsters have jobs in ten years? Policies being decided
right now will have an impact on the answer.

While the country debates job development, its already happening in
Oakland and a new coalition, OaklandWORKS, has been created to make
sure Oakland families are able to benefit. The development of the Oakland
Army Base could do some great things for Oakland.

With a new warehouse, logistics and research facilities the Port could
expand, becoming an even bigger part of world trade. Army Base
development is projected to create 8,000 new jobs, including both
construction and permanent employment. Who will hold those jobs?
Oakland residents? African-Americans? If we let the past dictate the
future, few African-American will be on those construction jobs.

Latest city figures show that only 5% African-American journeyman hours
are on city-funded construction projects, although African-Americans are
almost 30% of the Oakland population. A fair process for all Oakland
residents means community involvement in policy development, job
training, deployment for work, and monitoring. The OaklandWORKS
coalition is concerned with equity and environmental justice throughout the
city.

Right now the group is working on Army Base issues. The founding
members of the coalition include the Oakland Black Caucus, Leadership
Excellence, Oakland Parents Together, the West Oakland Environmental
Indicators Project, Pueblo, the John George Democratic Club, and
Oakland Natives Give Back. Their first free public event is Thursday, June
23rd from 6-8 pm at McClymonds High School, 2607 Myrtle Street (in West
Oakland).

Saleem Shakir from OaklandWORKS will present the groups proposal for
a community based job center. There will be knowledgeable panelists that
will offer comments and there will be plenty of time for audience questions
and comments.