Events

San Francisco FAITHS to Offer Classes on Disaster Preparedness for Community Groups

“Life during the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that faith and community-based organizations are not immune to experiencing disasters,” says Carmen Bogan, the program’s coordinator. “We all talk about being prepared, but how many faith-based and CBO leaders set aside the time to do it? Now is the right time to prepare for what’s next. Just two hours of preparation could make the difference. That’s what this series is all about.”

Published

5 years ago

April 3, 2021

Mia Lane

The San Francisco Foundation FAITHS Program announces THRIVE! The Master Class Series, 2021. This series of training draws on the knowledge of experts in their fields with decades of experience. Sessions will prepare nonprofit and faith-based leaders to navigate five key areas critical to more than surviving the season of COVID-19, by preparing for whatever comes next. It’s time to THRIVE!

The first of the five interactive zoom sessions is scheduled for April 9, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. Master Class instructors, Heather Lee, program manager for San Francisco Community Agencies Responding to Disaster (CARD) and Michelle Beasley, Federal Disaster Recovery officer for FEMA Region IX, will teach leaders how to create a preparedness plan designed to save property, finances, the organization’s future and even lives in the community.

Future topics include – “Rolling Out Your Reopening; Pivot into Tomorrow:” “Tech Savvy;” “Building a Strong Health Ministry or Department;” and “Where to Find COVID-19 Recovery Resources.”

Session 1
Date: 4/09/2021
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Topic:
Prepared for Next? From the Experts:
Steps to Developing an Organization Disaster Preparedness Recovery and Plan & FEMA Resources

Participants will learn about:

Planning – Creating preparedness and recovery plans
Operations – What things need to keep happening
Equipment – What you need
Training – What you need to learn
Exercise – How you practice

Accessing FEMA resources

You must register in advance for this meeting:

https://sff.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIrf–qrzIiEtBXgJ4EL6T1c3T2Fmc9sY_K

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

For more information contact:

Michelle Myles Chambers at mmc@ssf.org T – (415) 733-8539

Sayron Stokes at sstokes@ssf.org T – (415) 635-3319

Mia Lane

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of December 24 – 30, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – December 24 – 30, 2025

Published

3 days ago

December 25, 2025

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Activism

Lu Lu’s House is Not Just Toying Around with the Community

Wilson and Lambert will be partnering with Mayor Barbara Lee on a toy giveaway on Dec. 20. Young people, like Dremont Wilkes, age 15, will help give away toys and encourage young people to stay in school and out of trouble. Wilkes wants to go to college and become a specialist in financial aid. Sports agent Aaron Goodwin has committed to giving all eight young people from Lu Lu’s House a fully paid free ride to college, provided they keep a 3.0 grade point average and continue the program. Lu Lu’s House is not toying around.

Published

1 week ago

December 20, 2025

Oakland Post

Tania Fuller Bryant, Zirl Wilson, Dremont Wilkes, Tracy Lambert and Dr. Geoffrey Watson. Courtesy Oakland Private Industry

Special to the Post

Lu Lu’s House is a 501c3 organization based in Oakland, founded by Mr. Zirl Wilson and Mr. Tracy Lambert, both previously incarcerated. After their release from jail, they wanted to change things for the better in the community — and wow, have they done that!

The duo developed housing for previously incarcerated people, calling it “Lu Lu’s House,” after Wilson’s wonderful wife. At a time when many young people were robbing, looting, and involved in shootings, Wilson and Lambert took it upon themselves to risk their lives to engage young gang members and teach them about nonviolence, safety, cleanliness, business, education, and the importance of health and longevity.

Lambert sold hats and T-shirts at the Eastmont Mall and was visited by his friend Wilson. At the mall, they witnessed gangs of young people running into the stores, stealing whatever they could get their hands on and then rushing out. Wilson tried to stop them after numerous robberies and finally called the police, who Wilson said, “did not respond.” Having been incarcerated previously, they realized that if the young people were allowed to continue to rob the stores, they could receive multiple criminal counts, which would take their case from misdemeanors to felonies, resulting in incarceration.

Lu Lu’s House traveled to Los Angeles and obtained more than 500 toys
for a Dec. 20 giveaway in partnership with Oakland Mayor Barbara
Lee. Courtesy Oakland Private Industry,

Wilson took it upon himself to follow the young people home and when he arrived at their subsidized homes, he realized the importance of trying to save the young people from violence, drug addiction, lack of self-worth, and incarceration — as well as their families from losing subsidized housing. Lambert and Wilson explained to the young men and women, ages 13-17, that there were positive options which might allow them to make money legally and stay out of jail. Wilson and Lambert decided to teach them how to wash cars and they opened a car wash in East Oakland. Oakland’s Initiative, “Keep the town clean,” involved the young people from Lu Lu’s House participating in more than eight cleanup sessions throughout Oakland. To assist with their infrastructure, Lu Lu’s House has partnered with Oakland’s Private Industry Council.

For the Christmas season, Lu Lu’s House and reformed young people (who were previously robbed) will continue to give back.

Lu Lu’s House traveled to Los Angeles and obtained more than 500 toys.