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OPINION: MACRO Success Depends on Qualified Oaklanders Who Know Our Neighborhoods

We always knew that we would have to fight for good pay and benefits.

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Back view of rescue service team member holding a bag and standing next to the vehicle with rotating beacons

Jobs in Oakland Series

Oakland is finally nearing implementation of a model program that will provide a humane alternative model for low-level emergency calls that do not require a police response.

Faith in Action East Bay (FAIEB) and other members of the Coalition for Police Accountability were deeply involved in a year-long community process, especially in targeted neighborhoods, that included town halls, participatory research, and stakeholder meetings, to develop an appropriate program unique to Oakland.

Two significant concerns were emphasized. Oaklanders overwhelmingly believe that hiring and training diverse, qualified residents that reflect the community they serve is essential to building public trust.

We always knew that we would have to fight for good pay and benefits.

“If they’re hiring us, what kind of jobs will they be?” was the common question. In February 2019, FIAEB members prepared lunch for 70 unhoused neighbors testifying to the Oakland Police Commission.  We heard repeatedly: “when we have emergencies, we need someone to call — who is not the police.”

Out  of  that,  came  the  inspiration  for  the  Mobile  Assistance Community  Responders  of  Oakland  (MACRO),  focusing  on:

  1. A non-police response  to  appropriate  low-level  911  calls;
  2. Centering de-escalation, trauma-informed care, and connecting residents to local services;
  3. Well-trained community responders, who reflect the neighborhoods they serve;
  4. Excellent jobs that attract exceptional candidates and have low turn-over;
  5. A dedicated MACRO phone number for residents who don’t want to call  911;
  6. Community engagement in pilot development and implementation.

Despite the city administration’s attempt to undermine the design of MACRO, we can ensure that it succeeds by calling on our councilmembers to give clear direction to the city that:

  • MACRO job descriptions accurately reflect the complex, challenging nature of these emergency response jobs and remove unnecessary requirements that block otherwise qualified applicants who are from the neighborhoods they serve.
  • Ensure $70,000 salaries to fairly compensate MACRO responders and ensure a stable workforce.  This is work previously done by police officers who are paid almost double.  Impacted Oakland neighborhoods need and deserve good jobs.
  • Do not divert 42% of MACRO’s staff budget to unnecessary highly paid positions that do not meet the core mission of emergency response.

Black and Brown folk have long done similar, low-paid, devalued work in homeless outreach, violence interruption, and drug counseling. Alternative crisis response is a new, expanding job market. Other jurisdictions are already expanding initial pilots. This is the moment to make sure MACRO responders are properly compensated, can afford to live in Oakland, and can become long-term experts at serving our community.

This is the moment for our City Council to insist that MACRO be implemented for success.

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This opinion is part of Gay Plair Cobb’s Series on Jobs in Oakland. She is the Chief Executive Officer, Emerita, of the Oakland Private Industry Council, Inc., dba Oakland Partners in Careers. (Disclosure: She is married to Post News Group Publisher Paul Cobb.)

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of June 25 – July 1, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of June 25 – July 1, 2025

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LIVE NNPA 2025 National Legacy Awards Gala | Savannah

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Op-Ed: Why Black Fathers Like Me Must Speak Up About Autism

Being “Dad” to my daughter Amari, who was diagnosed with autism, changed everything. In the Black community, silence around disability comes at a cost. I’ve learned that fatherhood is leadership—and it’s time we speak up. Our kids need early support, inclusive policies, and visible, vocal fathers. Autism isn’t the tragedy—silence is.

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BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE – As a Black father, I’ve worn many titles—provider, protector, community leader, mentor. But none has shaped me more than being “Dad” to my daughter Amari, who was diagnosed with autism.

When I first heard the word autism associated with my child, I’ll admit—I was overwhelmed. Like many parents, I didn’t fully understand what it meant. I was afraid of what the future might hold. But in the Black community, fear is often met with silence. And silence—especially around disability and mental health—has become a quiet barrier too many families struggle behind.

That’s why I’m speaking out—not just as a father, but as an advocate for our children, for public service education, and for civic engagement rooted in love and leadership.

Black children are too often diagnosed, later, misdiagnosed, or outright denied access to the early interventions they need. The reasons are layered—racial disparities in healthcare, cultural stigma, under-resourced schools, and unconscious bias in medical and educational systems. The results are heartbreaking. Our children fall through cracks that should never exist.

Even fewer people talk about the role of fathers—especially Black fathers—in this journey. Too often, we’re pushed to the margins of the conversation or expected to stay silent. That ends here.

I’ve sat in countless IEP meetings. I’ve researched therapies, pushed for inclusive classrooms, and sought out the support systems that weren’t readily available. I’ve wiped away tears and celebrated every breakthrough. And in each step, I’ve realized that parenthood is more than presence—it’s informed, engaged leadership. It’s showing up as our child’s strongest advocate.

Through my advocacy, I’ve worked with other families here in Prince George’s County to build community, share knowledge, and empower fathers. But we need more. We need a cultural shift—one that recognizes neurodiversity, reduces stigma, and promotes civic participation among parents and caregivers. We need to normalize vulnerability in Black men and redefine strength as being fully present for our children.

And we need policy.

  • Paid family leave.
  • Inclusive classrooms.
  • Early intervention access.
  • Increased funding for special education—especially in underserved communities where disparities are most pronouncedl.

These aren’t just family issues. They are issues of public leadership. They are the foundations of building future leaders through involvement, advocacy, and education.

Our children deserve more than awareness—they deserve action. And our fathers deserve to be seen, heard, and supported—not shamed or silenced.

Autism is not a tragedy. Silence is.

Let’s talk. Let’s act. Let’s lead.

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