Community

Chosen 2 Lead Christmas Toy Giveaway Is A Success

Published

5 years ago

December 26, 2018

Lee Hubbard

Left to right: Erik Alexender/Ramon Malone/ James Cornn Sr./ Mark Burks/ Jeremiah Cornn.

Oakland – As the kids played in the gym at Frick Impact Academy in East Oakland, Mark Burks had a smile on his face. The founder of the non-profit Chosen 2 Lead was excited his organization’s Fourth Annual Christmas Toy Giveaway was helping to make Christmas a happy occasion for families and kids in Oakland.
“I am just glad we are able to give back and make someone happy during the holidays,” said Burks. “We’ve been doing this for the past four years, filling a need. We are trying to build on this and improve this every year.”
Chosen 2 Lead was founded in 2007 as a young men’s mentoring group out of Acts Full Gospel Church.
Burks, who has been a member of Acts Full Gospel Church since 1998, says his vision for the group was to help young men accept responsibility and give back, not only in the church, but also in the community. Besides the annual Toy Giveaway, the group holds leadership classes, attends rallies and mentors young men in schools and within the community.
As the kids lined up at the toy giveaway, they were able to select a variety of toys ranging from basketballs, soccer balls, board games, dolls and much more. These toys were donated by businesses, individuals and organizations.
Adarious Payton, a former member of Chosen 2 Lead, was back in Oakland during the Christmas break and came out to help his former group. A graduate of Bishop O’Dowd High School, Payton went on to attend and graduate from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, where he now resides.
“I came out to support Chosen 2 Lead and this is something that the community needs,” said Payton, “Things like this gives families hope during Christmas and the holiday season.”
Payton said he is glad he was a part of the organization as a youth because it gave him hope as well.
“I didn’t have a dad at home or a strong male figure in my life, so when I was at church, this program helped to inspire me to achieve and it made me want to go to college and do things to help people.”
Burks said that stories like Payton’s are what his group wants to achieve, helping young men become responsible leaders where ever they go.
“Adarious’ story is one of many that Chosen 2 Lead has been a part of,” said Burks. “We hope to have many more over the next few years.”

Lee Hubbard

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

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

Published

2 days ago

April 26, 2024

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

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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

6 days 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.

Oakland Post

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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

6 days 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.