Uncategorized

Berkeley Singer Gives Back in the Bay Area

Published

12 years ago

June 29, 2013

Sydney Nycole Reeves, a 21 year old singer and songwriter from Berkeley has been working behind the scenes to build her brand in the Bay Area. Blending R&B, soul, and pop music has led the young artist to perform and open up shows for industry heavyweights like Faith Evans, Robin Thicke, El DeBarge and Trey Songz.

Her talent and work ethic has even been endorsed by celebrities such as Sydney Poitier.Sydney discovered her love for music while she was still attending Berkeley High School and says what started out as a hobby for her ended up becoming her passion and career.

“I was an athlete playing volleyball and softball in high school and had to balance that with singing,” said Sydney. “Finding time for singing was definitely a challenge. But on my 16th birthday, I had a chance to visit a studio and work with producers who helped me find my voice.”

Three of the songs she recorded when she was 16 helped secure her an artist development/songwriting deal with actor and singer Jamie Foxx. After taking a few years to polish her skills, Sydney Nycole is finishing up her demo tape to send to record labels.

“It’s been a work in progress, but I’m looking to spend more time in the studio and make sure the music sounds natural,” said Sydney Nycole. “At the end of the day, It’s about doing what you love and want to convey that in my songs.”

Since then, she has penned over 60 songs including “Freedom” for the 2009 documentary “President Barack Obama: The Man and His Journey” and has gone on to secure a television commercial with actor and entrepreneur Blair Underwood. She also partnered with television producer/writer Eric Von Lowe (Cosby Show, Even Stevens, Walt Disney) on his teen book release, providing music for the book’s website and the upcoming movie version of the book starring Nickelodeon star Keke Barber.

Outside of making music, Sydney Nycole works with children in community outreach programs and charities such as an advocate for Alameda Foster Youth Alliance and Stop the Violence in Berkeley.

As part of her philanthropy platform, Sydney will be working with EO Products, a local business that creates sustainable personal care products such as hand soap, shower gel, and shampoo. After meeting with EO Products CEO Susan Griffin-Black, they created an educational program that helps teach urban youth and foster care about the importance of hygiene and utilizing healthier alternatives on their body.

She is also the Ambassador of Arts for Bright Future International, a charity that works with underprivileged children around the world by providing them with valuable programs to help them achieve academic and professional success.

“It’s been a great experience just being able to watch her grow as a well-rounded artist and build her brand,” said Gary Reeves, Sydney’s father and manager. “She understands the importance of giving forward to her community.”

Currently, Sydney Nycole is working with her band, “ASAP” and will be the performing at the California State Fair on the promenade stage on July 28th.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Uncategorized

Oakland Housing and Community Development Department Awards $80.5 Million to Affordable Housing Developments

Published

6 months ago

June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

Special to The Post

The City of Oakland’s Housing and Community Development Department (Oakland HCD) announced its awardees for the 2024-2025 New Construction of Multifamily Affordable Housing Notice of Funding Availability (New Construction NOFA) today Five permanently affordable housing developments received awards out of 24 applications received by the Department, with award amounts ranging from $7 million to $28 million.

In a statement released on Jan. 16, Oakland’s HCD stated, “Five New Construction Multifamily Affordable Housing Development projects awarded a total of $80.5 million to develop 583 affordable rental homes throughout Oakland. Awardees will leverage the City’s investments to apply for funding from the state and private entities.”

In December, the office of Rebecca Kaplan, interim District 2 City Councilmember, worked with HCD to allocate an additional $10 Million from Measure U to the funding pool. The legislation also readopted various capital improvement projects including street paving and upgrades to public facilities.

The following Oakland affordable housing developments have been awarded in the current round:

Mandela Station Affordable

238 Affordable Units including 60 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $15 million + previously awarded $18 million
Developer: Mandela Station LP (Pacific West Communities, Inc. and Strategic Urban Development Alliance, LLC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 1451 7th St.

Liberation Park Residences

118 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $28 million
Developer: Eden Housing and Black Cultural Zone
City Council District: 6
Address: 7101 Foothill Blvd.

34th & San Pablo

59 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $7 million
Developer: 34SP Development LP (EBALDC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 3419-3431 San Pablo Ave.

The Eliza

96 Affordable Units including 20 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $20 million
Developer: Mercy Housing California
City Council District: 3
Address: 2125 Telegraph Ave.

3135 San Pablo

72 Affordable Units including 36 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $10.5 million
Developer: SAHA and St. Mary’s Center
City Council District: 3
Address: 3515 San Pablo Ave.

The source of this story is the media reltations office of District 2 City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Oakland Housing and Community Development Department Awards $80.5 Million to Affordable Housing Developments

Published

10 months ago

January 30, 2025

Oakland Post

Rebecca Kaplan, interim District 2 city councilmember. File photo.

Special to The Post

The following Oakland affordable housing developments have been awarded in the current round:

Mandela Station Affordable

238 Affordable Units including 60 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $15 million + previously awarded $18 million
Developer: Mandela Station LP (Pacific West Communities, Inc. and Strategic Urban Development Alliance, LLC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 1451 7th St.

Liberation Park Residences

118 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $28 million
Developer: Eden Housing and Black Cultural Zone
City Council District: 6
Address: 7101 Foothill Blvd.

34th & San Pablo

59 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $7 million
Developer: 34SP Development LP (EBALDC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 3419-3431 San Pablo Ave.

The Eliza

96 Affordable Units, including 20 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $20 million
Developer: Mercy Housing California
City Council District: 3
Address: 2125 Telegraph Ave.

3135 San Pablo

72 Affordable Units including 36 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $10.5 million
Developer: SAHA and St. Mary’s Center
City Council District: 3
Address: 3515 San Pablo Ave.

The source of this story is media reltations office of District 2 City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Alameda County

Oakland Acquisition Company’s Acquisition of County’s Interest in Coliseum Property on the Verge of Completion

The Board of Supervisors is committed to closing the deal expeditiously, and County staff have worked tirelessly to move the deal forward on mutually agreeable terms. The parties are down to the final details and, with the cooperation of OAC and Coliseum Way Partners, LLC, the Board will take a public vote at an upcoming meeting to seal this transaction.

Published

11 months ago

January 11, 2025

Oakland Post

Alameda County Board of Supervisors Chairman David Haubert. Official photo.

Special to The Post

The County of Alameda announced this week that a deal allowing the Oakland Acquisition Company, LLC, (“OAC”) to acquire the County’s 50% undivided interest in the Oakland- Alameda County Coliseum complex is in the final stages of completion.

Oakland has already finalized a purchase and sale agreement with OAC for its interest in the property. OAC’s acquisition of the County’s property interest will achieve two longstanding goals of the County:

The Oakland-Alameda Coliseum complex will finally be under the control of a sole owner with capacity to make unilateral decisions regarding the property; and
The County will be out of the sports and entertainment business, free to focus and rededicate resources to its core safety net

In an October 2024 press release from the City of Oakland, the former Oakland mayor described the sale of its 50% interest in the property as an “historic achievement” stating that the transaction will “continue to pay dividends for generations to come.”

The Board of Supervisors is pleased to facilitate single-entity ownership of this property uniquely centered in a corridor of East Oakland that has amazing potential.

“The County is committed to bringing its negotiations with OAC to a close,” said Board President David Haubert.