Featured

Health Summit to Focus on HIV/AIDS, Social Justice

Published

10 years ago

April 9, 2014

The 7th Annual Black Health & Healing Summit, organized around the theme “We the People: Exercising Our Power, ”will take place Saturday, April 19 at San Francisco State University.

The summit will address the policies pertaining to incarceration, reentry, mental health, HIV, economic and housing justice, and other policy issues impacting Black and marginalized communities.

This year speakers include, Dr. Fania Davis, Angela Davis’ sister, Pastor Michael McBride, Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi, Lynette Sweet, Ed Donaldson, Deputy Public Defender Demarris Evans, Dr. Malcolm John, and entertainment provided by Vukani Mawethu Choir.

< p>The event is presented by the Black Coalition on AIDS (BCA), a nonprofit organization that began in 1986 in San Francisco, dedicated to reducing health disparities in the Black community, particularly the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Dr. Fania Davis (sister to Angela Davis)

BCA Executive Director Perry Lang decided he had to do something a number of years ago when he read a San Francisco Public Health report that highlighted the years of life lost, as a result of premature mortality, especially among Blacks.

It was at that moment that he realized BCA’s focus had to change to address all health conditions in the Black community and not just HIV/AIDS, which is only one of the many health disparities experienced by Black San Franciscans.

Juarre Wilson, program director of BCA since 2011, says being a part of this journey has confirmed his mission in life, which is to promote health and social justice in the Black and marginalized communities.

“Many Black folks I speak with express their love for this city but are skeptical about whether this city really loves us,” he said. “It is my responsibility and obligation to do whatever is in my power to move the health needle of the Black and other marginalized communities in a positive direction”

Wilson says this year’s Summit, acknowledges the 50-year anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. “Fifty years later, we continue to fight for our rights, which are not only under attack nationally, but locally as well.

One of the goals of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, he said, was to deliver on the promise of equal legal standing for Blacks that the Civil War was unable to achieve 100 years earlier.

Yet, at times, it feels as though the country has gone back in time 100 years. Blacks in San Francisco are still struggling economically, experiencing housing instability and unlawful behavior and practices by those who are supposed to protect and serve.

They know that law enforcement engages in stops, searches and harassment of African Americans at a rate than any other group, he said.

The Health Summit usually attracts about 230-250 people each year. Some of the most popular workshops have been discussion of mass incarceration and how public policies impact the lives and health of Black folks.

This event free and open to public. For more information and to RSVP for the summit, please call (415) 615-9945 x 115 or email communityorganizing@bcoa.org.

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

6 days ago

April 26, 2024

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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City Government

Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Beverli Marshall began her first day with the City on April 10. ICMA image.

Special to The Post

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.

Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”

According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.

“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”

When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.

At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”

While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.

On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.

“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.

The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.