Connect with us

Highlights

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 who were negatively affected by the war on drugs even after thelegalization of marijuana. It is a way to build wealth, she says, and make up for the losses individuals and families suffered because of biased drug policies and un- equal enforcement of laws.

Published

on

$6.5 MILLION PROGRAM AIMS TO BRING BLACK AND BROWN ENTREPRENEURS INTO THE MARIJUANA BIZ

By Bo Tefu | Impact Alameda

The city of Oakland’s Equity Program, which start- ed in 2017, intends to tackle racialdisparities created by the war on drugs. With a $6.5 million grant from the state government, it is aiming to bring more Black and Brown entrepreneurs into the cannabis industry.

The city of Oakland announced the grant earlier this year and its intention to boost the participation ofminority businesses in the cannabis industry. The program leaders say most Black entrepreneurs – especially those who have been formerly incar- cerated — have limited access to real estate and capital.

In the early stages, the program offered cannabis permits, loans, and rent-free working spaces to minority business owners. The initiative now offers grants and shared kitchen spaces for man- ufacturing anddistribution.

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 who were negatively affected by the war on drugs even after thelegalization of marijuana. It is a way to build wealth, she says, and make up for the losses individuals and families suffered because of biased drug policies and un- equal enforcement of laws.

Brooks, a former member of the Oakland city council, wants to ensure that it is not only White men who benefit from the legalization of marijuana in California.

“We had to recognize that there was a loss and we had to do ev- erything we could going forward tomake it right,” Brooks said.

Although White Americans use and distribute drugs at higher rates than African Americans and Latino Americans, accord- ing to the United States Department of Justice statistics, over the last 40-plus years, judges have convicted three times more Black And Brown people for low-level drug offenses,including the distribution and possession for small amounts of marijuana – which is now legal in California.

When President Nixon first announced America’s War on Drugs in 1971, the country’s prison population hovered around 100,000 inmates. By 2000, the United States’s prison popu- lation hadballooned to more than 2 million people. African American men alone made up about 40 % of that number even though they only account for about 6% of the country’s population. Latino men accounted for another 16 percent.

Greg Minor, assistant city administrator of Oakland, says the cannabis industry is ripe for government intervention because the criminal justice system added a layer to the lack of equity in the industry.

“We’re trying to ensure that those most impacted by the war on drugshave an opportunity to own and be employed in the regulated market,” said Minor.

Because marijuana is not legal at the federal level, there is ambiguity about how California local governments go about writing, enforcing and revising marijuana legislation. Despite that challenge, the city of Oakland still sees an opportunity to evaluate and improve its existing cannabis programs.

Oakland’s Equity Program has made it possible for people with cannabis convictions to access job opportunities. In the past, formerly incarcerated peoplehad limited options for employment or opportunities to build wealth. As part ofThe initiative, people with cannabis convictions from Oakland are eligible for all the benefits in the program.

“We tried to take the negative from the war on drugs and turned it into something positive,” Minor said.

Brooks, who established the program, wants the “equity” in the name of hisprograms to be more than just a title. Looking at the data of how the war on drugs disproportionately affected the African American and Latino community is only the first step, she says.

“Equity is about more than just the numbers. We have to take a deeper look at the program, what it does for the applicants and make sure it has the desired impact,” she adds.

In the midst of the pandemic, the city of Oakland is determined to reinforce its support for minority business owners with the two new shared-kitchen spaces each managed by a minority cannabis entrepreneur.

The city of Oakland is funding the two shared-kitchen sites to help minority manufacturers get their products to distributors such as dispensaries. The objective is to boost income for incoming minority-owned small businesses and other ones already involved in the Equity Program.

To find out how to get started in the Cannabis business, visit: https://www.oaklandca.gov/projects/cannabis-equity-program.

Education

Dismantling Pipelines to Prison: Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY) Reimagines Opportunity for Young People

“Some of the greatest success stories we’ve had is with youth who have been resistant to the process and wanting support,” said Trevor Arceneaux, Associate Director of FLY’s Alameda County operations. “FLY does a really great job at building authentic and trusting relationships with youth. Seeing the change and the walls being torn down and they’re able to engage with us in a different way and let us into their lives where we can understand and learn their needs. Then, we’re able to tap into their genius and get them to operate in the community with a different way.”

Published

on

In Alameda County FLY offers 4 core programs that provide pivotal services and education.
In Alameda County FLY offers 4 core programs that provide pivotal services and education.

Edward Henderson | Impact Alameda

The ACLU defines the school to prison pipeline as a “national trend wherein children are funneled out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems.”

Many of the children that fall into this pipeline have learning disabilities, are victims of neglect, abuse, and would benefit from additional services.

However, too many of them have also been subjected to systematic zero-tolerance policies that criminalize minor infractions and serve as catapults, feeding more children into the pipeline to prison.

Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY), is an Oakland-based organization dedicated to dismantling the school to prison pipeline by equipping youth with knowledge of the law and empowering youth with a community of supporters that amplify their voices.

FLY’s mission is poetic in the sense that the voices of youth who fell victim to the prison pipeline served as the foundation for the organization’s creation.

Back in 1995, Christa Gannon, FLY’s founder and Stanford University Law School graduate, would often converse with teens facing significant prison time about services that could steer other children away from incarceration.

In many of their responses, the children mentioned education of the law — to know the consequences of poor choices – as well as having role models and opportunities to be of service to their communities. Those ideas are the pillars that FLY was built on.

“Education is power,” said Trevor Arceneaux, Associate Director of FLY’s Alameda County operations. “There are a lot of opportunities to practice that power. It helps to develop a young person’s critical consciousness of the world and how they see it. A lot of times our young people are actively in this pipeline, and they can name it and see it. We can give them options on how to solve these real-world issues.”

In 2000, FLY transitioned to a non-profit, building on the concepts of law education and empowerment. Today, FLY is now one of the Bay Area’s most respected agencies working with youth who are currently or formerly involved in the juvenile justice system.

With 70 staff and more than 200 volunteers, FLY serves more than 2,000 youth throughout the Bay Area each year, ranging from ages 11 to 24.

“Some of the greatest success stories we’ve had is with youth who have been resistant to the process and wanting support,” said Arceneaux. “FLY does a really great job at building authentic and trusting relationships with youth. Seeing the change and the walls being torn down and they’re able to engage with us in a different way and let us into their lives where we can understand and learn their needs. Then, we’re able to tap into their genius and get them to operate in the community with a different way.”

These authentic connections are fostered in the many programs FLY offers to equip youth with the knowledge and confidence they need to navigate life and avoid pitfalls.

In Alameda County FLY offers 4 core programs that provide pivotal services and education.

The Court Appointed Friend and Advocate (CAFA) Mentor Program pairs youth with mentors to meet weekly and support them in developing new behaviors, ambitions and attitudes. Each mentor/mentee pairing has a FLY case manager for support who also attends monthly group activities organized by FLY. All mentors are also granted legal standing to act as advocates for their mentees in the courtroom and at schools.

The FLY Law Program is an interactive 8-to-12-week course covering topics such as police encounters, accomplice liability, three strikes, theft, vandalism, drugs, gangs, and police arrests. The curriculum also touches on critical life skills like anger management, problem solving, conflict resolution, and resisting negative peer pressure. Mid-way through the semester, youth take a field trip to a local university law school where they tour the campus and act out a mock trial in the moot courtroom.

The Leadership Training Program helps youth build the skills and attitudes they need to live a crime-free, self-sufficient life. The program traditionally kicks off with a three-day wilderness retreat that enables youth to break away from negative influences and stresses and begin bonding with FLY staff and peers, developing trust and teamwork skills. (Because of the pandemic, virtual or socially distanced activities have replaced the retreats.) Following the retreat, youth meet monthly to support each other in group settings and to design projects in which they advocate for positive change and give back to their communities. Each young person receives intensive coaching from a FLY case manager to identify and address their greatest barriers.

The STAY FLY Program is a reentry program that develops social emotional learning skills and knowledge of the law in youth ages 18-25. A three-tier system is implemented to support youth as they transition back into the community. Law-related education, pro-social events and civic engagement activities, along with case management and coaching are offered to participants.

“Youth really love being around FLY staff,” said Arceneaux. “That’s more important to me than anything. They are going to remember the connections they have. When I see youth cracking jokes or hitting up staff to tell them about an accomplishment, that lets me know we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing. We’re really pushing youth to use their voice. In the next three to five years, you’re going to hear about former or current FLY youth advocating or pushing for systematic change. Tapping into their sense of agency and impacting the entire world.”

Continue Reading

Business

Is an Employer or Landlord Using Your Felony Conviction Against You? Here’s What You Can Do

The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) is also encouraging the public to report housing ads that use discriminatory language to exclude certain racial groups, immigrants, people with felonies, and applicants with Section 8 or U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) vouchers; etc. 

Published

on

Since the law passed, the state has sent more than 500 notices to businesses informing them that they have violated protections put in place to protect people seeking work. 
Since the law passed, the state has sent more than 500 notices to businesses informing them that they have violated protections put in place to protect people seeking work. 

Edward Henderson | Impact Alameda

The California state government has been reminding businesses and landlords across the state that it is illegal to discriminate against job and rental applicants because they have committed felonies or misdemeanors in the past.

The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) is also encouraging the public to report housing ads that use discriminatory language to exclude certain racial groups, immigrants, people with felonies, and applicants with Section 8 or U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) vouchers; etc.

“The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing announced a new effort to identify and correct violations of the Fair Chance Act, a pioneering state law that seeks to reduce barriers to employment for individuals with criminal histories,” a DFEH statement read.

The Fair Chance act, which took effect on January 1, 2018, was written to increase access to employment and housing for Californians with criminal histories — a way to reduce recidivism, among other goals. Employers with five or more employees are prohibited from asking a job candidate about conviction history during the hiring process or when advertising a vacancy.

Since the law passed, the state has sent more than 500 notices to businesses informing them that they have violated protections put in place to protect people seeking work.

The DFEH says it is implementing new technologies to conduct mass searches of online job applications that include unlawful statements. For example, some businesses explicitly state in hiring advertisements that they would not consider applicants with criminal records.

“Using technology to proactively find violations of the state’s anti-discrimination laws is a powerful strategy for our department to protect Californians’ civil rights,” said DFEH Director Kevin Kish. “DFEH is committed to preventing employment discrimination through innovative enforcement actions and by providing clear guidance to employers.”

DFEH released a toolkit to aid employers in adhering to the Fair Chance Act guidelines. The toolkit includes sample forms and guides employers can use to follow required procedures; a suggested statement that employers can add to job advertisements and applications to let applicants know that they will consider individuals with criminal histories; answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the Fair Chance Act and an informational video that explains the Fair Chance Act.

In addition, DFEH plans to release an interactive training and an online app this year.

Before authorities lifted the statewide COVID-19 public health restrictions, DFEH also warned businesses against masking discrimination with COVID safety precautions.

“As Californians navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing has provided guidance to protect civil rights and mitigate risk of COVID-19 transmission in employment, housing, healthcare, and, in our guidance released today, businesses open to the public,” said Kish. “We can and must uphold civil rights while simultaneously disrupting the spread of COVID-19.”

DFEH encourages individuals to report job and housing advertisements violating the Fair Chance Act or other instances of discrimination.

Visit the DFEH website to file complaints. (https://ccrs.dfeh.ca.gov/s/login/)

Continue Reading

California

COVID Recovery in Alameda County: Our Church Is Offering Free Tests

Variants still pose a threat. And case numbers are still on a gradual decline here in California and around the country. Therefore, we can’t throw all caution to the wind when it comes to keeping our loved ones safe and healthy. The death rate resulting from COVID-19 is still higher for Black Californians than the statewide average, according to numbers from the California Department of Public Health.

Published

on

The Rev. Gerald L. Agee is the founder and pastor of Christian Friendship Church in Oakland and the statewide manager for the Black church testing program.
The Rev. Gerald L. Agee is the founder and pastor of Christian Friendship Church in Oakland and the statewide manager for the Black church testing program.

Rev. Gerald L. Agee | Impact Alameda

States and cities have lifted mask mandates and other COVID-related restrictions. But even as we readjust to life as it was before the pandemic, we know that COVID is not fully gone for good.

Variants still pose a threat. And case numbers are still on a gradual decline here in California and around the country. Therefore, we can’t throw all caution to the wind when it comes to keeping our loved ones safe and healthy. The death rate resulting from COVID-19 is still higher for Black Californians than the statewide average, according to numbers from the California Department of Public Health.

At the height of the coronavirus crisis, Black pastors across California recognized the urgency of the COVID-19 threat. As we move from pandemic to endemic, we still do.

We continue to accept the responsibility of this fight, and we understand as faith leaders in our communities that we must combine faith with action. Prayers for healing and health must be backed up by a plan for protection and prevention that keep our communities safe and the virus at bay.

That is why dozens of faith leaders across our state have worked together to keep the doors of our churches open for convenient COVID-19 testing. Some sites offer vaccinations. This effort to keep our congregations and our neighborhoods safe has been made possible with the support of our testing partner Color and the California Department of Public Health.

The pastors in our network, their congregations, staff, and volunteers at our churches and in our community have done an excellent job. Their effort has contributed in no small way to the high COVID-19 vaccination rate and low positivity rate we now have in California. We are truly proud and grateful.

As we walk into this new phase of our COVID-19 response, we must prioritize safety, especially for those among us who are aging or otherwise fragile.

As our slogan tells us, “Don’t guess, get the test” before fully chucking your mask, or going back to work or traveling to see loved ones.

Look up one of our centers in your community to get vaccinated and tested. It is the surest way that we can stem the spread of this virus.

We must decide to renew our hope and lead with faith even stronger than we have been doing. With that resolve, committing ourselves to keeping each other and our communities safe will be easy.

Remember, we can end this endemic once and for all — together.

About the Author

The Rev. Gerald L. Agee is the founder and pastor of Christian Friendship Church in Oakland and the statewide manager for the Black church testing program.

Continue Reading

Trending