• Bay Area

    NAACP Alleges Bias; African American Chamber Says Audit “Maligns” Contractor

    by  • April 11, 2013 • African American, African's in America, Article Archives, Bay Area, Berkeley, News Articles, Oakland News Articles

    Larry Reid

     Turner Group Demands Ruby’s Retraction by April 15 By Ken A. Epstein The Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce is saying that City Auditor Courtney Ruby’s recent report  “maligns” the reputation of Turner Group Construction, a local contracting firm that Ruby accused two city council members of trying to favor. In a separate letter,...

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    Alameda County Honors Women’s Health Trailblazers

    by  • April 6, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Health, Special Interests Articles

    Alameda County recently honored trailblazing women who have broken through the glass ceiling as CEOs and leaders of some of the most influential health care organizations in the East Bay. Honoree at the March 28 at the 2nd “Women’s History Month Trailblazers” were Elaine Brown, author, activist and former chairperson of the Black Panther...

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    CubaCaribe Dance Festival in Oakland and SF

    by  • April 6, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, Entertainment, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, Socialmedia, Special Interests Articles

    CubaCaribe Dancers in a recent performance. Photo by Andy Mogg.

    The 9th Annual CubaCaribe Dance Festival will present performances, workshops, demonstrations and lectures by master and emerging Caribbean and Latino musicians and choreographers, April 12 through April 28 in San Francisco and Oakland. The theme of this year’s festival is “Tributes to our Teachers.” Among the groups that will perform are the modern dance...

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    McKinley Elementary School Receives “Platinum Sneaker” Award

    by  • April 6, 2013 • Alameda County, Bay Area, Children, Education, Foundations, Geneology, News Articles, South County, Special Interests Articles

    From left to right: San Leandro City Councilmember, Pauline Cutter; TransForm Safe Routes to School Coordinator, Jessica Cruz; McKinley Elementary’s Golden Sneaker Parent Champion, Darlene Lee; Principal of McKinley Elementary, Cher Situm; San Leandro Vice Mayor, Michael Gregory.

    Eight San Leandro schools participated in the Alameda County Golden Sneaker Contest during the month of March for healthy and greener transportation to and from school. The contest challenged students and teachers to walk, bike, carpool, or take transit to schools. Families who could not walk or bike to school still joined in the...

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    Panel on Operation Ceasefire in Oakland

    by  • April 5, 2013 • Bay Area, City Government, Community Events, Featured Events, Government, Public Safety

    The Metropolitan-Greater Oakland (MGO) Democratic Club  is presenting a panel discussion on implanting national crime-fighting model Operation Ceasefire  in Oakland, Thursday, April 18 at 8 p.m. at Stern Hall, Temple Sinai, 2823 Webster St. in Oakland. Speakers will include Rev. Dr. George C. L. Cummings, Imani Community Church; Deputy Chief Eric Breshears, the Oakland...

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    Fight for Army Base Jobs Linked to Audit Issues

    by  • April 5, 2013 • Bay Area, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Social Media

    Courtney Ruby

    By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor One of the key issues in Oakland City Auditor Courtney Ruby’s recent Non-Interference in Administrative Affairs Performance Audit involves a contract to demolish a structure known as Building 6 at the Oakland Army Base. The contract was originally awarded by staff to Turner Construction of Oakland in 2009 following a...

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    CHP OAKLAND OFFERS START SMART DRIVER SAFETY CLASS

    by  • April 4, 2013 • Bay Area, Education, Featured, Government

    The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is helping to educate teenaged drivers and their parents regarding safe driving practices through its Start Smart Program.  The Start Smart Program is a collaboration between the CHP, Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), parents and their teenage drivers.  Its goals include: (1) helping younger...

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    Can a Black Girl Be the Next Steve Jobs?

    by  • April 3, 2013 • Academia, African American, Bay Area, Culture, Education, Featured, News Articles

    black_girls_code_lead-thumb-640xauto-6507

    Participants learn basic html with Black Girls Code’s Summer of Code in San Francisco on July 28, 2012. All Photos by Julianne Hing by Julianne Hing Tuesday, July 31 2012, 9:48 AM EST Tags: BlackGirlsCode, Science, Technology, Teens Aita Zulu, on her first try and on her first day with computer programming, made a website....

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    Kimberley Hayes, New Head of African American Art and Cultural Complex

    by  • March 31, 2013 • Art, Bay Area, Community Service, Education, Marin County News, Philanthropy, Special Interests Articles

    Kimberly Hayes

    By Lee Hubbard With a broad smile, Kimberley Hayes greeted the guests coming into the reception area on the third floor at the African American Art and Cultural Complex in San Francisco. Though she had already been working for two weeks as the new executive director at the complex, this was her introduction to...

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    California Lawmaker Nicholas Petris, 90

    by  • March 31, 2013 • Bay Area, Politics and Government

    Nick Petris

    By Rebecca Trounson, Los Angeles Times Nicholas C. Petris, who was a leading liberal voice for nearly four decades as a California state senator and assemblyman representing his hometown of Oakland and other East Bay cities, has died. He was 90. Petris, who retired in 1996 because of term limits, died last Wednesday at...

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    Fighting Crime Richmond-Style

    by  • March 31, 2013 • Bay Area, Richmond News

    From left to right - Front row:  Anthony Ingram,  Greg Bluitt Jr., Charles Williams Sr.;  Second Row: Wayne Captain, Councilmember Nathanial Bates, Larry Caldwell Jr.;  Karl Hardiaman Jr., G. Harper,  Frank Thomas, Michael Jackson, Steven Bates; Third Row: Mike Saucer, Willie Barnstine, Sam Barnstine, Charles Williams Sr., Councilmember Corky Courtland Booze,  Myron Ross, Leonard Neal,  Otheree Christian; Forth Row: Dale Roberts, Kelvin Davis Sr.,  Demark Barnstine, Gary Mason, Rev. Ellis,  M. Crenshaw; Fifth Row:   Gerald Bilbo, Michael Williams. Photo by Joe L. Fisher, Black American Political Action Committee.

    By Lloyd Madden BAPAC President At 5 p.m. every Wednesday, they file into to the Richmond City Council Chamber for a one-hour gathering hosted by Vice Mayor Corky Boozé. The first five minutes are devoted to communication with family members serving time in state prison. And everybody chips in $2, not unlike the passing...

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    Lee and Community Groups Back Immigration Reform

    by  • March 31, 2013 • Bay Area, Politics and Government

    Barbara Lee

    Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) this week hosted a comprehensive immigration reform forum at St. Elizabeth’s High School in Oakland, pledging “to fight for a plan that strengthens families, builds the American workforce, and includes a clear roadmap to citizenship.” “We are a nation of immigrants whose contributions are a proud part of our heritage,”...

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    Ruby’s Flawed Audit Fails to Make Case

    by  • March 31, 2013 • Article Archives, Bay Area, Business, Education, Oakland News Articles, Opinion, Press Releases

    Desley Brooks

    By Ken A. Epstein If you read the city auditor’s new report like it’s the gospel truth, then Courtney Ruby’s 64-page “performance review” cites damning evidence against two members of the Oakland City Council who are accused of interfering with staff in awarding a multi-million dollar contract for part of the city’s Oakland Army...

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    Velma Ewing, 88, Widow of Tuskegee Airman

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Obituaries, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles, Vallejo News

    Velma Ewing on Mother’s Day last year..

    By Janice Ewing and Lateefa Ali The Tuskegee Airmen earned their place in history as they bravely defied convention and fought for what they loved.  We remember these men. But we seem to forget their wives who have also earned their place in history, defying convention and fighting for what, and who they loved....

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    Africans In America

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Africans in America, Bay Area, Berkeley, Featured, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles, Vallejo News

    AIA 2

    Part 3 Propitiation honoring Ancestors According to the Odu Osa Meji, in the Yoruba belief system, Odu (female oracle) established all the sacred groves (places) and maintained secrets of the sacred shrines of the Orisas (belief of the Yoruba, divine system) after descent. Women were not excluded from performing rituals at any sacred grove....

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    “Daddy Date” Offers Fun for Young Fathers and Their Children

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Article Archives, Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Andre Fikes and daughter Autumn (left) and Dante Toomer and daughter Kennedy .

    By Kia Croom, Contributing Writer Local extent organizer Dante Toomer recently held “Daddy Day,” an afternoon of activities for fathers to share with their children. The event, held on the afternoon of March 16 at Marina Park, took place in conjunction with a carnival sponsored by the City of Emeryville. Fathers and their children...

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    Tax Preparer Robin Swarn: “Whatever Is Going On, We Can Fix It”

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Robin Swarn

    By David Scott You don’t have to be rich or a movie star to find good help to do your taxes, according to Robin Swarn, a tax preparer with Jackson Hewitt. “We have news for everyday people seeking a tax refund or needing help with tax issues,” she said.  ‘’Whatever is going on, we...

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    Oakland’s James Meeks in NFL Draft

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Education, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    James Meeks, Jr. (center), with his parents James Meeks, Sr. (left) and Nina Meeks (right) at his graduation from Central Washington University.

    By Ashley Chambers Oakland native James Meeks  Jr. will get the chance to live out his dream, taking the opportunity of a lifetime in the NFL Draft next month. Towering at 6’5”, he will compete in the regional combine on March 23 with the Seattle Seahawks in Washington. A graduate of Central Washington University...

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    Breast Cancer and African Americans Bay Area Conference

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Health, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    The Stanford Cancer Institute’s Community Partnership Program is hosting the second annual conference, Breast Cancer and African Americans, on Saturday, May 4, 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the South San Francisco Conference Center, 255 South Airport Boulevard, S. San Francisco. The purpose of this event is provide culturally tailored breast health and cancer...

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    Sickle Cell Advisory Council Offers Scholarships

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Education, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    The Sickle Cell Community Advisory Council of Northern California  is offering the Samuel Wallace Scholarship Award to high school seniors and college students living with the Sickle Cell disease. The advisory council was started in 1999 as a collaboration between patients of the former Alta Bates Sickle Cell program, administrators at Children’s Hospital of...

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    Youth UpRising Hosts Arts Open House, March 29

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, General Articles, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Youth Uprising at 8711 MacArthur Blvd. in East Oakland.

    In the wake of a year of unprecedented violence, which ultimately led to the murder of four Youth UpRising youth members, the agency is showcasing young artists who will display their artwork focused on community violence. The open house will be held Friday, March 29 from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Youth Uprising...

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    Small Business Administration to Expand Access to Loans

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Post News Feature Story, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Karen Mills

    Borrowers and lenders of loans backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will have greater access to capital and less paperwork as a result of a proposed regulation aimed at streamlining the SBA application process. “Streamlining and simplifying has been a key focus of our agency over the last few years. The changes...

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    Painter Keli J. Walker Depicts “The Albino,” A Child with a Hard Life

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Painter Keli J. Walker stands next to her painting “The Albino” on display at Joyce Gordon Gallery in downtown Oakland through Apr. 28. Photo by Babatunde Harrison.

    By Keli Walker I paint faces that hold stories. I paint them to understand their histories, emotions, and dreams. My process is dialectic; conversing with the face through every brush stroke. The more time I spend painting faces, the more the face tells me about who they are and how to render their appearance....

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    KDYA/KDIA Praise in the Pavilion

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Lady Kelly Harris (middle) and the Motions That Minister praise dancers performing at Praise in the Pavilion. Photo by Timothy-the photographer-Powell.

    By Ashley Chambers Gospel radio stations KDIA 1640 AM, “The Light at the Top of the Dial,” and KDYA 1190 AM, “The Light,” put on their first Praise in the Pavilion gospel concert on March 16 at Richmond’s Craneway Pavilion. Featuring praise dancers, gospel recording artists, children’s activities and vendors, the event appealed to...

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    San Leandro Police Settle Contract

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Education, Faith, Oakland News Articles, San Francisco, Special Interests Articles

    Isaac Benabou, police association president.

    The San Leandro Police Officers Association and the City of San Leandro have agreed to a three-year labor contract. The 2013-2015 agreement provides wage increases to retain  officers and to recruit qualified new officers, while keeping the city financially sustainable for the long term, according to city officials. “We commend the San Leandro Police...

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    “All I did Was Shoot My Man,” New Mystery by Walter Mosely

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco

    Walter Mosley

    By Terri Schlichenmeyer, The Bookworm Sez The dirty glasses haven’t quite made it to the kitchen yet. They’re still communing with last weeks’ newspaper in the living room, while dust bunnies dance with cookie crumbs strewn on the carpet. Forgotten toys lie everywhere and your sweatshirt is right where you left it, balled up...

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    America’s Harsh Criminal Sentences Are Out of Step

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, News Articles, San Francisco

    Dana Marie Isaac

    New research conducted by USF’s Human Rights in Criminal Sentencing Project reveals that U.S. criminal sentencing practices are out of step with 193 nations. Criminals in the U.S. receive longer sentences for lesser crimes, including life without parole (LWOP) for nonviolent offenders and for juveniles, putting the country at odds with sentencing practices in...

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    Protesters Demand Leslie Knight Be Removed

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, News Articles, Richmond News

    By Post Staff

    Union protesters joined whistleblower Stacie Plummer at a City Council meeting this week to demand the firing of Human Resources Director Leslie Knight after an investigation funded by the city found she had violated several city policies.
    Holding signs that read “Hold power accountable” and “Richmond needs accountability,” protesters at Tuesday’s meeting called for the removal of Knight and City Manager Bill Lindsay because he has not fired her.
    The investigation concluded that Knight had “improperly received $400 monthly in car allowance while also using a city vehicle, used paid city staff to make trinkets and ordered a subordinate to access Plummer’s emails after Plummer lodged a complaint against her,” according to the Contra Costa Times.
    Plummer, the city’s finance manager for the library and cultural services department, said Knight had asked her to design logos and postcards for Knight’s jewelry and gift business, which Plummer refused.
    Speaking at Tuesday’s council meeting, Plummer alleged that Knight “bullied” her, moving her to different positions throughout the city.
    Although the investigation concluded that Knight did not profit from the trinket making, Plummer and supporting protesters have insisted that City Manager Lindsay fire her.
    However, Lindsay has said, “The problems did not merit termination of any employee.”
    In a statement released following the complete investigative report, Knight admitted to making mistakes. She was unavailable for comment at press time.

    Left to right: Kathleen Sullivan, President BWOPA; Stacie Plummer, Whistleblower; and Pam Bilbo, President Men and Women of Valor. Photo by Joe L. Fisher, Black American Political Action Committee

    School Principal Sylvia Greenwood Follows in Family’s Footsteps

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Education, News Articles, Richmond News

    Dr. Sylvia Greenwood

      By Kyra Worthy Dr. Sylvia Greenwood often remembers a quote her father kept on his desk as a teacher, principal and later interim superintendent of West Contra Costa Unified School District: “It is better to build children than to repair men.” It’s a phrase that the longtime Richmond educator carries with her when...

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    Former Harlem Globetrotter Celebrates Birthday

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, News Articles, Richmond News

    Leroy Walker. Photo by Joe L. Fisher, Black American Political Action Committee.

    By Kia Croom Longtime Richmond resident and former Harlem Globetrotter Leroy Walker recently celebrated his 70th birthday, at the Rockefeller Lodge in San Pablo where friends and relatives shared childhood memories, basketball stories and fish tales about the local businessman. Among those attending were Elzer Minor, Joe Fisher of BAPAC. Carl Adams and Donald...

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    Hall of Fame Celebrates Oakland’s History Making Athletes

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Sports

    Hall of Fame inductees at the first annual Oakland Athletic League program. Sitting from left to right: Lawrence Powles (son of George Powles), Jim Hines, William Patterson, Judy Pace Flood (wife of Kurt Flood) and Rev. Greg Payton (older brother of Gary Payton); Standing left to right: Russell White (OAL commissioner), Darlene Miller (athletic director at Fremont High School), Maye Powles (daughter of George Powles), Jumoke Hinton-Hodge (School Board, District 3), Charles and Kiana Smith (children of Lola Smith), Ben Visnick (teacher), Johnny Lorigo (former OAL director), Chris Dobbins (OAL committe member). Photo by Z’ma Wyatt.

    The Oakland Athletic League (OAL) held a Hall of Fame induction ceremony last Saturday at the Oracle Arena to honor some of the stars who represent the city’s rich athletic heritage. The inaugural event honored Oakland’s homegrown high school athletes who became national and global icons in their respective sports. Inductees were Don Budge...

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    High School Students Join Barbara Lee in Civil Rights Pilgrimage to Selma

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, News Articles, Oakland News Articles

    From left to right: Malcolm Jackson, Encinal High School in Alameda; Meriam Salem, Alameda Science and Technology Institute; Erin McGhee, Unity High School in Oakland; Jonah Lee; Congresswoman Barbara Lee; and Joshua Lee.

    Three local high school students joined Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) in the recent 13th Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage. The pilgrimage of more than 20 Members of Congress included events, meetings and tours in Birmingham, Selma and Montgomery, Alabama. This three-day passage, March 1-3,  through living history demonstrated the powerful role that non-violence and courage...

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    Obama Delivers More Support to Small Businesses

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, News Articles, Oakland News Articles

    Elizabeth Echols

    By Conway Jones Federal Small Business Administration-backed lending is rising to record levels in Northern California, according to SBA Regional Administrator Elizabeth Echols. Echols, who met recently with the Post, talked about what President Obama is doing to help businesses to grow or get off the ground. “Under his watch, we have had two...

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    Robert Chrisman, 75, Editor of the The Black Scholar

    by  • March 22, 2013 • Bay Area, Berkeley, News Articles, Oakland News Articles

    Robert Chrisman

    Robert Chrisman, co-founder and editor of the internationally acclaimed journal, “The Black Scholar,” died March 10 in San Francisco. He was 75. Under Chrisman’s leadership, The Black Scholar – founded in 1969 by Chrisman and Nathan Hare – was a beacon of achievement and hope within the movement to create Black Studies departments and...

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