Community
DreamCatcher Shelter for Youth Opens New Building
Press conference celebrates the opening of the DreamCatcher shelter for youth’s new building in Oakland.
Alameda County’s only shelter for 13-18 year old youth – DreamCatcher – last weekend opened a brand new building, equipped with its first-ever medical clinic, a new drop-in center, kitchen and residential rooms.
The new building adds six beds to the organization’s capacity. This new wing will be called “Nika’s Place” and will specifically serve formerly sexually exploited girls.
DreamCatcher will move operations from their current building, located next door to the new shelter, in June.
“These children are point zero at the intersection of our greatest social ills, and it is in the fight to save their voices that our communities become stronger and more compassionate, more prepared for a better tomorrow for all our children,” said Amba Johnson, director, DreamCatcher Youth Services.
A dedication ceremony was held Saturday, May 13 speeches from youth who rely on DreamCatcher services, as well as Oakland City Councilmember Lynette Gibson McElhaney, Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley, Senator Nancy Skinner, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Assemblymember Rob Bonta, and other Oakland City Councilmembers, many of whom have been champions of the organization and have supported its recent capital campaign.
The building was purchased by a grant from Alameda County in November 2010. Over the last seven years, the small non-profit pieced together grant funding from the federal government, the State of California, Alameda County, City of Oakland and other funding sources to develop the new shelter.
DreamCatcher has been serving homeless and at-risk youth since 1990. Youth access DreamCatcher services for a variety of reasons. Some have grown up homeless and have aged out of the shelters where their parents stay.
Some have been kicked out of their homes for their LGBT status. Some have been forced into labor trafficking while crossing the border, and approximately 40 percent have been sexually exploited.
In addition to shelter, DreamCatcher provides daily meals, counseling, access to laundry machines and a safe place to hang out.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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