Oakland

Miles Bailer Armstead, 45

Published

5 years ago

June 3, 2020

Editor’s Note:

Miles Bailer Armstead’s life tragically ended at his property in East Oakland as a result of the all-to-common violence in our community. He was taken away from his family of four children, a wife and parents. We are publishing his family’s beautiful tribute to the man who faithfully sought to serve others.

Miles Bailer Armstead was a devoted son, husband, father, youth sports coach, church leader, professional networker, wealth management private banker—not to mention, die-hard New York Giants fan. He enriched all our lives with his big personality, infectious energy, enthusiasm, compassion, competitiveness, wit, fun-loving nature and love of family.

Miles was born November 20, 1975 in Manhattan, New York to Bonnie Bailer, an educator and attorney and Dennis Armstead, an artists’ manager. Miles started his education at St. John the Divine’s Cathedral School and continued his education at the prestigious Thacher School in Ojai, CA. He would go on to earn his B.S. in Political Science from the University of San Francisco (USF).

At 13, Miles recovered from two major surgeries that could have caused blindness and permanent brain damage. By age 19, Miles had traveled to 19 countries learning a deep love and appreciation for different cultures.

After graduating from USF, Miles began his professional career in business finance sales for such companies as Bank of America, Wells Fargo and most recently, Fremont Bank where he achieved many awards.

In 2002, Miles married his college sweetheart, Alexandra Leigh Brown. They raised three beautiful children (Chloe, Quinn and Elle). Although the marriage ended 11 years later, Miles remained a devoted, caring and compassionate father.

In 2017, Miles married his life partner Melina Ann Esquilin and loved Melina’s daughter, Isabella, as his own. Miles and Melina are expecting their first child together in August.

Miles, a sports enthusiast, was also a PTA board member, classroom volunteer, and the father that played on the jungle gym in his suit and tie. However, what he loved most was being an assistant coach for two years and then head soccer coach for six years with the Oakland Soccer Club.

Miles always took on leadership roles with various volunteer networks including the Sigma Alpha Epsilon International Fraternity, the Black Student Union, the Multicultural Student Union and was active with the Associated Students of USF the Business Network International, Embarcadero Chapter and the exclusive ProVisors business network.

He partnered with his wife Melina to lead multiple annual 24-Hour Relays at Oakland Technical High School—supporting the Ever Forward Club’s youth mentorship program.

In the spring of 2019, Miles and Melina made the ultimate family and church commitment and joined their current pastors as part of their Core Team to serve the city of Oakland by opening The Fathers House Oakland (TFH Oakland), an untraditional church helping people experience God, find family and live a life fulfilled—a mission that encompassed Miles’ life to the end.

Miles’ desire was to fill the foyer of Grand Lake Theater with the love of God and community. He greeted each parishioner by name as they returned every Sunday. Miles’ mark and legacy for the love of God, service, team, family and Oakland will continue to live on through TFH Oakland, his children, co-workers, friends, and family.

Miles is survived by his wife Melina, children—Chloe, Quinn, Elle and Isabella, mother, Bonnie Bailer and her husband Philmore Glover, father, Dennis Armstead and his wife Ingrid, brother Bradley and his wife Lisa Jean, brother, Terence and his wife Sandra, sister, Stephanie Douglas and her husband Jeff, mother-in-law, Judith Caliz, grandmother, Marvelyne Bailer and countless aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces and his dog, Macho.

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Oakland Post: Week of April 30 – May 6, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 30 – May 6, 2025

Published

1 day ago

May 4, 2025

Oakland Post

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Barbara Lee Accepts Victory With “Responsibility, Humility and Love”

“I accept your choice with a deep sense of responsibility, humility, and love. Oakland is a deeply divided City,” Lee said in an April 19 statement. “I answered the call to run to unite our community, so that I can represent every voter, and we can all work together as One Oakland to solve our most pressing problems.”

Published

1 week ago

April 28, 2025

Oakland Post

Barbara Lee. File photo.

By Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌,
California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌

As a candidate for mayor, former U.S. Representative Barbara Lee released a “10-point plan” last week to reassure residents that she will tackle Oakland’s most pressing challenges.

Now that she has edged out her competitors in the ranked-choice special election with 50% or more of the vote, the former Congresswoman, who represented parts of the Bay Area in the U.S. House of Representatives, can put her vision in motion as the city’s first Black woman mayor.

On Saturday evening, Taylor conceded to Lee. There are still about 300 Vote-by-Mail ballots left to be verified, according to county election officials. The ballots will be processed on April 21 and April 22.

“This morning, I called Congresswoman Barbara Lee to congratulate her on becoming the next Mayor of Oakland,” Taylor said in a statement.

“I pray that Mayor-Elect Lee fulfills her commitment to unify Oakland by authentically engaging the 47% of Oaklanders who voted for me and who want pragmatic, results-driven leadership.”

The influential Oakland Post endorsed Lee’s campaign, commending her leadership on the local, state, and federal levels.

Paul Cobb, The Post’s publisher, told California Black Media that Lee will bring back “respect and accountability” to the mayor’s office.

“She is going to be a collegial leader drawing on the advice of community nonprofit organizations and those who have experience in dealing with various issues,” Cobb said. “She’s going to try to do a consensus-building thing among those who know the present problems that face the city.”

Born in El Paso, Texas, Lee’s family moved to California while she was in high school. At 20 years old, Lee divorced her husband after the birth of her first child. After the split, Lee went through a tough period, becoming homeless and having to apply for public assistance to make ends meet.

But destitution did not deter the young woman.

Lee groomed herself to become an activist and advocate in Oakland and committed to standing up for the most vulnerable citizens in her community.

Lee traveled to Washington, D.C. to work for then U.S. Congressman Ron Dellums after receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mills College in Oakland in 1973. Lee later won a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) fellowship to attend the School of Social Welfare, and she earned a Master of Social Work from the University of California-Berkeley in 1975.

Lee later served in the California State Assembly and State Senate before she was elected to Congress in 1998.

After serving in the U.S. Congress for more than 25 years, Lee ran unsuccessfully for California’s U.S. Senate in the 2024 primary election.

Lee joins current Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass and former San Francisco Mayor London Breed as Black women serving as chief executives of major cities in California over the last few years.

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Teachers’ Union Thanks Supt. Johnson-Trammell for Service to Schools and Community

“I speak for our Oakland community and the families OEA serves in thanking Supt. Johnson-Trammell for her service. With public schools and immigrant families under attack nationally from Trump and with budget challenges affecting many California school districts, these are tough times demanding the best of what we all have to offer,” said OEA President Kampala Taiz-Rancifer in a statement released Thursday.

Published

1 week ago

April 27, 2025

Oakland Post

OEA President Kampala Taiz-Rancifer. Courtesy photo.

The union calls for a community-involvement in search for new superintendent

By Post Staff

While pointing out that Supt. Kayla Johnson-Trammell has been planning to resign for a while, the Oakland Education Association (OEA) thanked her for years of service to the schools and called for community involvement in the search for a new superintendent.

“While we disagreed strongly on a number of issues,” said Taiz-Rancifer, “Dr. Johnson-Trammell is a daughter of Oakland and a product of our public schools. We thank her for her service and wish her the best moving forward.”

She said the schools’ community was aware that the superintendent had been planning to leave well before this week’s announcement.

“The superintendent has spoken publicly throughout the year about her planned departure. In August 2024, the previous school board approved a renewed contract raising her compensation to over $600,000 per year and allowing her to step back from daily responsibilities beginning in the 2025-2026 school year,” said Taiz-Rancifer.

She said the teachers’ union has been raising concerns about the need for stability and financial transparency in the district. “For three of the last four years, the district projected major deficits, only to end with millions in reserve.” This year, she said, the district added $90 million to central office overhead expenses.

“Just last month, a majority of school board directors took action to cap expensive consultant costs and develop alternative budget proposals that align spending with community priorities to keep funding in classrooms,” she said.

Taiz-Rancifer said the union stands behind the leadership of Board President Jennifer Brouhard and Boardmembers Valarie Bachelor, Rachel Latta, and VanCedric Williams.