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Garden Planted at Marin School During MLK’s Holiday

Michelle Bryant, the Garden coordinator, was inspired by the White House Kitchen Garden that Michelle Obama started, and which was maintained by Melania Trump and now by the First Lady Jill Biden. The Garden supplies the White House kitchen with about 2,000 pounds of fruits, vegetables and herbs each year, and what is not used is donated to a food bank in Washington, D.C.

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Volunteers prepping the soil. Bottom: Start of Meditation Circle (Photos by Godfrey Lee)
Volunteers prepping the soil. Bottom: Start of Meditation Circle (Photos by Godfrey Lee)

By Godfrey Lee

About 50 adults and youths came to weed and till the soil at the children’s garden at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Academy. This was a Day of Service in the Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King’s Birthday, on Jan. 17, and part of a year-long celebration of Marin City’s 80th birthday.

The event was organized by Felecia Gaston, the director of Performing Stars of Marin, and the Mt. Tamalpais United Methodist Church.

The event will help the students at the school get a head start in planting the crops for their vegetable garden. The garden needs to be planted before the end of January, according to Michelle Bryant, the Garden coordinator. Bryant also said that the soil, which has now turned black in color, is now richer and more fertile as it was left alone during the COVID Pandemic. While the garden became overgrown, the soil became more fertile, and should yield some good fruits and vegetables for the students in the school.

Some parents in the community came earlier in November to clear out the previous garden. Now Bryant is able to reimagine and improve the garden to have a meditation circle in the middle where the students can enjoy the garden. It will also have a victory rose garden and orchard trees, along with the other fruits and vegetables.

Bryant was inspired by the White House Kitchen Garden that Michelle Obama started, and which was maintained by Melania Trump and now by the First Lady Jill Biden. The Garden supplies the White House kitchen with about 2,000 pounds of fruits, vegetables and herbs each year, and what is not used is donated to a food bank in Washington, D.C.

Most significant to Bryant, in drawing inspiration from the 2800 square-foot White House garden, was the rich dirt that was used, and that children are able to walk through it.

The garden at the school will help students learn about growing the plants they will be eating. It resembles the abundance Bryant saw in Marin City when she was a child. “Everybody had something growing. They just loved the idea of being from the farm.” Bryant told the Marin IJ.

Gaston, who was working in the Garden, also told the Marin IJ “It’s a perfect time to bring people together from all diverse backgrounds, to come and do a day of service … and still continue the work of Dr. Martin Luther King.”

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Oakland Post: Week of November 27 – December 3, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 27 – December 3, 2024, 2024

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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.

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

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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.”

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Myrtle Braxton (l-r), Byran H. Harris, and Michelle Hayes. Photo by Mike Kinney.
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 25th 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.

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