Black Biz Owner and Award-Winning Humanitarian Employs Formerly Incarcerated Oaklanders

By Bo Tefu | Impact Alameda

Oakland’s popular House of Chicken and Waffles restaurant owner Derreck Johnson is proposing a recovery plan to tackle the economic crisis and public healthissues worsened by the global coronavirus pandemic. The plan aims to establish strategic partnerships with leadingbusiness and community organizations to improve the quality of life for the people of Oakland.

The housing crisis, Johnson says, is one factor that motivated him to run for city council. Although he lost the election Nov. 3, seeing African American and LGBTQ youth being pushed into homelessness, he says, triggeredhis instinct to be a solutions-oriented community leader.

“My heart breaks when I see my fellow brothers and sisters who look just like me and come from the neighborhoods that I grew up in,” Johnson told Impact Alameda. “It’s scary knowing that I could be one of them.”

The pandemic caused a dramatic shift in income for Johnson who downsized his Home of Chicken and Wafflesfrom five locations to one. The last restaurant standing is near Jack London Square — on Embarcadero by the Waterfront.

The dip in business caused by the COVID-19 crisis lockdown and the slow recovery that hadfollowed was a major blow to Johnson’s business. It was especially alarming for hisemployees; over 70% of them were formerly incarcerated. Despite the personal financialsetback, Johnson

is thinking broader, looking at the recovery of the city he loves and determined to driveeconomic growth and address the coronavirus public health emergency.

“Housing is a human right, we have to take severe action because this pandemic hascreated a public health emergency for our communities,” Johnson says. “The homelessencampments are in Black and Brown communities, so it affects us the most.”

Johnson’s campaign also proposes financial literacy programs to help marginalizedcommunities understand the importance of homeownership. His goal is to empowerdisenfranchised communities to build,” he says.

“We need to educate ourselves so we can know the value of our property.

So, we can avoid selling and gentrifying our neighborhoods,” he says.

As part of his long-term plan for economic reform, Johnson wants to scale up Oakland’s business relationships with Fortune 500 companies to ensure that the local governmentprovides better public services and resources.

Award-Winning Humanitarian and Champion for Business Equity

Johnson’s passion for equity businesses and employing former convicts stems from his desire to giveback to the community that raised him and made him the leader he is today.

“I wanted to make sure that I serve the community by employing them,” he says. “I feel it’s myobligation to give back to the community that supports my business, without Oakland, I wouldn’t have income or be as popular.”

The city of Oakland works closely with Johnson to recruit former convicts as employees of his localbusiness. Oakland’s program analyst Kevin Grant has been instrumental in matching Johnson with candidates since he started his first business, a car wash in 2008.

“It just doesn’t make sense, no one was giving them a chance,” he says. “If no one’s giving them achance to turn their life around, what do they do with the time they have since getting out of prison?”

The challenges that come with being a business owner are not new to Johnson who is actively working to raise resiliency relief funds for minority businesses with Cathy Adams, Chief Executive Officer,and Shonda Scott, Board Chairwoman, of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce.

Johnson adds that the local government needs to expand and model initiatives such as the COVID-19 Relief Fund created by the Oakland BlackChamber of Commerce.

The group has raised over $1 million in funding for minority businesses in the BayArea.

The community leader also serves on the board of directors for the Summit BankFoundation to promote financial literacy programs and assist equity business ownersget access to funding.

“We can develop and train the future leaders in our Black and Brown people, to giveback to their communities,” Johnson says.

In 2012, Johnson won the City of Oakland Humanitarian Award for his community service.

“I was grateful that the city was thanking me, it was a heartfelt moment,” he says.

Johnson dedicated the award to his late mother, whom he says taught him to be a“hardworking leader with integrity.”

“I felt her standing right next to me and that I made her proud,” he says.

Being presented the award by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-13) was areassuring moment, says Johnson, who was raised by Black women and is inspired by the monumental work they do forthe community.

“I was raised with morals and values that taught me to always try my best,” hesays. “Receiving that award was very import- ant to me.”