Berkeley

Q and A with Local Award Winning Toastmaster Vivian Prater

Published

8 years ago

September 23, 2017

Vivian Prater. Photo by Carla Thomas.

Vivian Prater is a member of ARPB Toastmasters Club #8933, which serves the Bay Area, including Oakland, Berkeley, Emeryville, Alameda, and San Leandro. Prater received the highest area director honors for Toastmasters Leadership Clubs as Select Distinguished Area Director and Co-Area Director of the Year. She recently sat down with the Oakland Post to discuss her latest accomplishments.

Were you surprised to be recognized this summer?
VP: If someone had asked me what I envisioned for myself in July 2017, I most likely would have said, I would be the same ordinary Toastmaster I was. Never in my wildest dream did I think I would be a SELECT DISTINGUISHED AREA DIRECTOR AND A CO-AREA DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR. During the past year from July 1, 2016-June 30, 2017, I have been totally transformed.

How did your journey begin?

VP: I began my year deciding to join the TLC (Toastmasters Leadership Club) and embarking on doing my HPL (High Performance Leadership) project as an Area Director. My goal was to help my clubs raise their profile and succeeded in having one club be Distinguished and the others to be Select Distinguished and President’s Distinguished.

Who inspired you along the way?

VP: I met, Adrian Jefferson Chi for, during an office visit to Oakland Uptown, which was one of the clubs in my area. I sensed she was special and when she entered her heartfelt speech, “The Final Goodbye,” about her recently deceased father and won the Spring International Speech Contest, I was shocked to know she’d only been in Toastmasters for less than a year. Adrian won multiple awards and was elected to be president of Oakland Uptown for the year 2017- 2018.

What have you learned as Area Director?

VP: I found that by being an Area Director, you get the opportunity to connect with people in a totally different way as a servant leader. During my visits with the Oakland Uptown chapter, I shared with them the importance of getting the most out of their Toastmasters journey.

How has Toastmasters expanded your network?
VP: I connected deeply with Elizabeth Pauw, the president of my home club, ARPB Toastmasters. She was a vital part of my executive committee and an important link in helping ARPB Toastmasters chosen as Select Distinguished. Elizabeth will be my replacement as the Area Director for 2017-2018.

What other opportunities did you encounter?

VP: I had the great opportunity to meet and work with Maya Clark. Maya is the daughter of Ernest Clark, the last person who is a founding member of ARPB Toastmasters Club. Maya also was a part of my executive committee. Maya did an amazing job as our VPE.

What does the future hold for you?

VP: In my new position, I will serve as the Awards Chair of D57 for 2017-2018. I am fortunate to have been mentored by Merci Del Rosario for my new position.

What is your advice to other aspiring leaders?

VP: I strongly urge anyone to join Toastmasters and I encourage current members to step out of their comfort zones and consider assisting their area directors. This will be a chance to be surprised and positively rewarded beyond your imagination.

Oakland Post

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Bay Area

Progressive Missionary Baptist Church of Berkeley Celebrates 90th Anniversary

Dr. Earl C. Stuckey, Sr., who has served as Progressive Missionary’s pastor since September 1977, said the church also delights in the fact that it has hosted only five pastors in its 90-year history, including Pastors James E. Moore, H. A. Green, F. Douglas Farrell, and Edward Stovall, who served for 37 years.

Published

6 days ago

May 16, 2025

Oakland Post

Progressive Missionary Baptist Poster. Dr. Earl C. Stuckey, Sr., Pastor of Progressive Missionary Baptist Church in Berkeley with his wife, Kay Frances Stuckey.

By Oakland Post Staff

The Progressive Missionary Baptist Church of Berkeley is celebrating its 90th church anniversary on Sunday, May 18 at 10 a.m. at 3301 King Street in Berkeley.

The celebration will feature Pastor Darnell Manuel of the Union Baptist Church in Vallejo as guest speaker, along with many other special presentations.

Those who wish to share in Progressive’s history can purchase a 100-page full-colored souvenir book for $25.

The church boasts a number of notable people who either regularly attended or became members of the church since its inception, including former Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, Oakland mayoral candidate Loren Taylor, and one of the organizers of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, Helen J. H. Stephens.

Pastor Stuckey often remarks how longevity flourishes at the church — it boasts 13 centenarians (people who have reached 100 years or more). Currently, it has one centenarian who is still surviving, Mrs. Dorothy Chambers, and 14 members who have reached 90 years or more.

Recently, on Feb.17, the pastor and his wife Kay Frances, celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary.

Oakland Post

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Activism

Faces Around the Bay: Author Karen Lewis Took the ‘Detour to Straight Street’

“My life has been a roller-coaster with an unlimited ride wristband! I was raised in Berkeley during the time of Ron Dellums, the Black Panthers, and People’s Park. I was a Hippie kid, my Auntie cut off all our hair so we could wear the natural styles like her and Angela Davis.

Published

4 weeks ago

April 28, 2025

Oakland Post

Karen Lewis. Courtesy photo.

By Barbara Fluhrer

I met Karen Lewis on a park bench in Berkeley. She wrote her story on the spot.

I got married young, then ended up getting divorced, raising two boys into men. After my divorce, I had a stroke that left me blind and paralyzed. I was homeless, lost in a fog with blurred vision.

Jesus healed me! I now have two beautiful grandkids. At 61, this age and this stage, I am finally free indeed. Our Lord Jesus Christ saved my soul. I now know how to be still. I lay at his feet. I surrender and just rest. My life and every step on my path have already been ordered. So, I have learned in this life…it’s nice to be nice. No stressing, just blessings. Pray for the best and deal with the rest.

Nobody is perfect, so forgive quickly and love easily!”

Lewis’ book “Detour to Straight Street” is available on Amazon.

Oakland Post

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Activism

Golden State Warriors Program Is Inspiring Next Generation of Female Engineers

Breaking down barriers and biases that deter young girls from pursuing STEAM subjects is essential for creating a level playing field and ensuring equal opportunities for all. By challenging stereotypes and promoting a culture of inclusivity and diversity in STEAM fields, experts believe young girls can be empowered to pursue their interests and aspirations without limitations confidently. Encouraging mentorship, providing access to resources, and celebrating girls’ achievements in STEAM are all crucial steps in creating a supportive environment that fosters success.

Published

2 months ago

March 23, 2025

Oakland Post

Front Row: UC Berkeley Steel Bridge Team Back Row: Girls, Inc. Participants. Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

The Golden State Warriors and e-commerce giant Rakuten are joining forces to inspire the next generation of female engineers through Building STEAM Futures, part of The City Calls campaign.

Organizers say the initiative is founded on the idea that science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) are crucial fields for innovation and progress, and empowering young girls to pursue careers in these areas is more important than ever. Studies consistently show that girls are underrepresented in STEAM fields, resulting in a gender disparity that limits potential and hinders diversity.

On Saturday, March 8, International Women’s Day, the Warriors and Rakuten hosted 20 middle school girls from Girls Inc. of Alameda County at Chase Center’s Above the Rim for a hands-on bridge-building experience. The young girls from Girls, Inc. of Alameda County had an opportunity to design, build and test their own bridge prototypes and learn the fundamentals of bridge construction from the Engineering Alliance and the UC Berkeley Steel Bridge Team.

This STEAM experience for the girls followed the first session in January, where they took a behind-the-scenes tour of the Golden Gate Bridge, learning about its design and construction from industry experts. The City Calls campaign, tipped off with the unveiling the Warriors’ new bridge-themed City Edition jerseys and court design earlier this year.