Community

Oakland’s Mothers of the Year Celebrate at Garden Center

Published

5 years ago

July 21, 2019

65-year-old Oakland tradition continues with the recognition of Kemba Shakur, executive director of the nonprofit Oakland Urban Releaf, an organization dedicated to planting and maintaining trees in the East Bay.

Shakur is the founder of this group and has overseen the planting and caring of an estimated 20,000 trees in low-income communities. Moving to West Oakland in the 1990s, Shakur noticed the lack of trees and other greenery in that district: She saw a need and formed the group.

Shakur believes in residents taking pride in where they live and offering opportunities for at-risk youth and unemployed adults to gain marketable job skills.

Currently, her organization plants 600 trees a year in Oakland, and sponsors projects in several other Bay Area cities as well.

Urban Releaf has trained 4,000 young people in tree-planting and maintenance. Over 12,000 fruit trees have also been donated to Oakland elementary schools.

Shakur was nominated for the 2019 Oakland Mother of the Year award by the Mayor’s Office.

The winner’s love of trees and nature comes from her childhood experiences when her mother took the family to Yosemite and other national and state parks on back packing trips, away from their Hunters Point neighborhood in San Francisco.

Previous “mothers” hosted a luncheon at the Lakeside Garden Center recently to honor and welcome Shakur. The annual event is a way for the “mothers” to gather, get acquainted with their newest member, and exchange about all their previous contributions to the community.

A plaque for each mother and the year she was selected is located on a “walk of fame” pathway at the Morcom Rose Garden. Since 1954, the pathway and honoree ceremony has been maintained by the Department of Parks Recreation and Youth Development.

“We are already looking for candidates for next year’s honoree,” says Zermaine Thomas, Parks staffer. “Details regarding criteria for the 2020 nomination is available on our website (www.oaklandca.gov).”

Annalee Allen

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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

3 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

7 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

7 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.