Bay Area

oWOW Creates Revolutionary Product

Published

5 years ago

January 16, 2020

oWOW is an Oakland-based company that is committed to changing the way we think about real estate development and its long-term impacts on neighborhoods and communities.

The company’s goal is to construct adaptable and affordable spaces for any income. Paired with socially conscious community integration to ultimately create innovative project solutions with long-term sustainable value, oWOW is putting equity back into the hands of the communities they reside in.

oWOW’s newest project, West Oakland Works, is located at 2715 Adeline Street, and is taking a 25+ years vacant blighted warehouse as well as two vacant parcels at the cusp of the residential and industrial zone intersection, proposing to create West Oakland’s first and only active employment generator.

West Oakland Works will be the first ground-up work/live project in Oakland, where the focus would be on enabling the community to build itself up in a long term sustainable way. Through combining workspaces and living to incentivize people to bring small businesses to West Oakland, then live in their business space at no additional cost.

Chef Rashad Armstead of the Black Food Collective. Courtesy of Rasad Armstead.

“It’s taking two separate costs and putting it into one,” said oWOW CEO Danny Haber. “This concept opens up larger financial opportunities to a larger diversity of groups. We have paired with real community engagement and network of project programs to foster and provide minority-owned businesses a pathway to build equity in their business, and put wealth back into their families and community.”

Food Network Chopped Champion and local restaurateur Rashad Armstead will develop, create and coordinate nearly 10,000 SF of space on the ground floor to operate the outdoor public town hall, which will be comprised of 12 renovated shipping containers, turned into Black-owned pop-up restaurants. It will include everything from beer and wine bars, BBQ, steakhouse, seafood, creole, Jamaican and African delicacies.

“Our goal is to recreate the cultural experience of businesses that was once a part of the West Oakland landscape,’ said Armstead. “The area will also feature a 6,000 SF commissary kitchen and community event space, for people who want to start their own food business in Oakland. It’s about creating wealth in the Black community.”

“We will be running a “food boot camp” through my organization, Black Food Collective, to help food entrepreneurs understand the process from start to finish. The town hall will help budding business operators go through the necessary training.”

“And not all will make it,” added Armstead. “Our initial training is expected to start in three months which will lead us into the development of our town hall and commissary kitchen. We plan to open the commissary kitchen within 15 months of construction starting.”

The largest innovation of this project comes from the creation of Oakland’s first newly-constructed 91 Work/Live workspaces that range between 800 SF – 2,000 SF areas. Each unit boasts very large bona fide work spaces and 16-foot-high ceilings, large double doors and paths for freight loading, and complete ADA accessibility for potential employees or clients.

Work/Live is a type of small business workspace where a tenant can run their full business operation while having the opportunity to live in the unit at no additional cost. An estimated 200+ jobs will be created as part of these workspaces.

In order to make this vision a reality, oWOW established a combined for-profit and nonprofit workforce development task force. Their role is to help guide the project as a kind of community advisory board. They will alsol prepare businesses with technical assistance to qualify, focusing on minority and African-American-owned businesses by providing marketing, business development and other services to get the business up and running, and help provide long-term supportive resources to sustain these businesses onsite long-term.

If you are interested in leasing a space now, they are offering rent subsidies to the qualifying local business owners. Email adeline@owow.com to sign up before it sells out!

Clifford L. Williams

Posts by Clifford L. Williams

Activism

OCCUR Hosts “Faith Forward” Conference in Oakland

The conference featured Congresswoman-elect Lateefah Simon, who will begin her term representing California’s 12th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives in January.
Simon was honored with a special recognition from OCCUR for her civic and nonprofit leadership.

Published

2 days ago

November 24, 2024

Oakland Post

President and CEO of OCCUR addresses the audience at OCCUR Faith Forward 2024 Conference at Resurrection Church. Photo by Carla Thomas.

By Carla Thomas

The Oakland Citizens Committee for Urban Renewal (OCCUR) hosted its Faith Forward 2024 Conference on Nov. 8 at Resurrection Church in Oakland.

The conference featured Congresswoman-elect Lateefah Simon, who will begin her term representing California’s 12^th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives in January.

Simon was honored with a special recognition from OCCUR for her civic and nonprofit leadership. During her remarks, She commended nonprofits making a difference, and shared how she looked forward to representing Oakland and surrounding areas.

Simon also encouraged attendees to continue fighting despite their concerns about the presidential election results. She also cautioned that there may be resources that are discontinued as a result.

“We know the assignment. We have many of the resources right within our own community, and we will be ok,” Simon assured the audience.

The conference led by OCCUR president, Dr. David B. Franklin, also featured panels on funding opportunities, case studies, economic development, sustainable housing solutions, and organizing for action.

“In order for organizations serving the community to thrive, everyone must collaborate, share resources, and not operate in silos,” said Franklin.

Speakers included San Francisco Foundation CEO, Fred Blackwell, San Francisco Foundation FAITHS Program Director Dr. Michelle Chambers, and Kingmakers of Oakland Founder, Chris Chatmon. Guests were briefed on how Kingmakers of Oakland has gone from a budget of zero to several million and is set to acquire 200 acres of property to expand their programs serving young boys. The leadership at the San Francisco Foundation encouraged nonprofits, churches, and community leaders to work together, especially when donations and funding numbers are lower.

Ben Bartlett of Berkeley City Council; Trevor Parham, CEO of Oakstop; and CEO of the Lao Family Community Development, Inc., Kathy Chao Rothberg, inspired attendees with stories about their journeys in the nonprofit sector.

Additional speakers included Deka Dike, CEO of Omatachi; Landis Green, CEO of DGS Strategies; Sasha Werblin, Director of Economic Development, LISC Bay Area; Oakland City Councilmember Treva Reid; Faith and Justice Organizer of East Bay Housing Organizations, Ronnie Boyd; and Todd Bendon, Executive Director of Faith in Action East Bay; among others.

The event allowed community leaders, faith-based leaders, and nonprofits to gain Insight on how to strengthen their profits financially, and communally.

OCCUR has served the community for over 70 years supporting the wellbeing of historically marginalized communities with collaborative strategies. For more information visit occurnow.org

Oakland Post

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Bay Area

Richmond’s New Fire Chief Sworn In

“Chief Osorio rose up through the ranks in the Richmond Fire Department over the last 21 years before being elevated to chief,” noted Harpreet Sandhu, field representative for Congressmember John Garamendi,. “He joined the department in 2002 and has served in multiple roles including firefighter, engineer, captain, battalion chief, training director and deputy fire chief.”

Published

2 days ago

November 24, 2024

Oakland Post

Chief Osorio (far left) was sworn in at a well-attended ceremony at Richmond City Hall on Nov. 15. All photos by Mike Kinney.

By Mike Kinney
The Richmond Standard

Richmond Fire Chief Aaron Osorio was sworn into his new role in a well-attended ceremony at Richmond City Council Chambers on Friday, Nov. 15.

The crowd included Osorio’s family and friends, rank-and-file Richmond firefighters, fellow fire chiefs from Bay Area agencies, elected officials and community members.

Richmond City Manager Shasa Curl provided an introduction and acknowledged Chief Osorio’s “heroic service to Richmond.”

Harpreet Sandhu, field representative for Congressmember John Garamendi, presented the chief with a Congressional Commendation, citing his 23 years of serving in the fire service in Richmond in numerous positions.

“Chief Osorio rose up through the ranks in the Richmond Fire Department over the last 21 years before being elevated to chief,” Sandhu noted. “He joined the department in 2002 and has served in multiple roles including firefighter, engineer, captain, battalion chief, training director and deputy fire chief.”

The chief’s wife, Maria, and two sons Roman and Mateo helped perform the badge-pinning.

Richmond City Clerk Pamela Christian then conducted the swearing-in ceremony.

Chief Osorio thanked his family, colleagues, and city for their support, calling it “very humbling” to take on leadership of an “amazing organization.”

Once the ceremony was done, the chief stated, “I’m ready to get to work.”

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Richmond Seniors Still Having a Ball After 25 Years

The Senior Winter Ball is a symbol of the Commission on Aging’s broader mission of providing enriching life experiences to the local senior community, particularly those in need of them. “Besides the social activities, we focus on issues such as housing, transportation and health,” said Michelle Hayes, the commission’s chairperson. “We get things done for our senior population.”

Published

2 days ago

November 24, 2024

Oakland Post

Myrtle Braxton (l-r), Byran H. Harris, and Michelle Hayes. Photo by Mike Kinney.

By Mike Kinney
The Richmond Standard

For a quarter century, seniors in the local community have had a prime location in the heart of the city to gather and celebrate the holidays.

That is courtesy of the annual Senior Winter Ball, which will mark a milestone this year when it takes place for the 25^th time. The gala will run from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Richmond Memorial Auditorium.

The holiday tradition was started by the City of Richmond’s Commission on Aging in 1999 to entertain and celebrate seniors. The event also raises funds for local senior causes. Attendees wear their finest attire and enjoy dinner and dancing.

“It’s so exciting to see all of the gala attendees all dressed up and seeing their lifetime friends and making new friends as well,” said Bryan M. Harris, secretary for the Commission on Aging. “They will reminisce about old Winter Ball memories and at the same time create new ones.”

Richmond’s very own Chef Josephine Orozco of El Sol Catering will serve at this year’s anniversary dinner. The gala will also feature the band Top Shelf Classics, which plays hits from the 50s through the 80s and has been the gala’s annual performer for the last decade.

The Senior Winter Ball symbolizes the Commission on Aging’s broader mission of providing enriching life experiences to the local senior community, particularly those in need of them.

“Besides the social activities, we focus on issues such as housing, transportation and health,” said Michelle Hayes, the commission’s chairperson. “We get things done for our senior population.”

Myrtle Braxton, 97, has served on the commission for 17 years and is its current vice president. She says her goal is to increase the quality of life for seniors through safe social events.

“So many seniors are isolated and are sometimes forgotten by society,” Braxton said. “So, our commission is their advocate and makes sure they are not left behind.”

Tickets to the 25th Silver Anniversary Annual Senior Winter Ball are $45 per person or $360 for a table of eight. They are available in person via the Main Recreation office at 3230 Macdonald Ave., via email at csdregistration@ci.richmond.ca.us or by phone at 510-620-6793.