Reforming Reform: The Future of Juvenile Justice in California

California’s newly formed Office of Youth and Community Restoration (OYCR) focuses its programs more on rehabilitating young people than punishing them. The OYCR, a division of...

Juvenile Justice in Alameda County: We’re on Our Way but More Needs to Be Done for Our Children

Adapting a model that is restorative and reparative for the men, women and children who commit crimes is not at odds with maintaining a criminal justice...

Volunteer to V.P.: Margot Dashiell Fights for Families Dealing With Mental Illness, Trauma 

“I work with families to support individuals within the family and to navigate the very complicated and inadequate system of mental health in the county,” said...

Protect Your Mental Health: Four Things You Can Do in Your Own Space (at Your Own Pace)  

Shanice Smith, a social worker at Roots Community Health Center in Oakland, offers tips on different ways people can keep their mental health in check.

Caring Like a BOSS: Oakland Org Tackles Homelessness at Its Source

Social advocates at BOSS are working closely with the Racial Disparities Task Force created by the City of Oakland to address health disparities through healthcare programs in ethnic...

Walking by Faith, Leading with Love: Rev. Ken Chambers Invests in Alameda County

“People really like helping people. They enjoy helping people. When you give them a chance to help others, a lot of times they'll take that opportunity...

A Voice for Victims: Cal NAACP Is Clearing Criminal Records for Free  

The criminal justice system has disproportionately affected Black people in the United States as a result of the War on Drugs, a federal government-led effort that claimed...

An “Opportunity to Build”: Center Provides Good-Paying Construction Jobs With an Eye on the Climate Crisis

Climate resilience is a pivotal part of the organization’s mission and vision. Environmentalists at Rising Sun are passionate about climate resilience and sustaining the environment because...

Roots Community Health Center Uplifts African Americans “Forgotten and Ignored” By the Health Care System

In California, African Americans, who make up around 6 % of the state’s population of nearly 40 million people, account for a disproportionate number of imprisoned...

Community Group’s Work Helps Close School-to-Prison Pipeline

When Safe Passages first partnered with public schools, school districts had mental health professionals who worked as case managers and provided support for students. Perez recalled...

To Fix Past Wrongs, History Holds the Truth; We Hold the Power

We must unite around correcting our historical wrongs as California and Alameda County have begun to do through programs that provide restorative justice for past wrongs...

RESOURCES: OAKLAND

CANNABIS KITCHENS

Desley Brooks, the creator of the Equity Program, says a cen- tral goal of the effort is to give business opportunities to Black and Brown people...

From Convict to Co-Owner

Alphonso “Tucky” Blunt, the co-owner of Oakland-based marijuana dispensary Blunts+Moore, recalls learning the ropes of running a business from his father who owned a car detailing shop....

FROM LA TO THE BAY, WITH LOVE:

In 1993, Carter's experience with drugs and homelessness led her down a path of crime that ended with her serving time in prison. That experience, she...