Featured

Ben Jealous and Al Gore Honor Freada Kapor at Tech Diversity Forum

Published

9 years ago

February 23, 2015

At the recent Fairness Matters Forum hosted by The Level Playing Field Institute (LPFI), founder Freada Kapor Klein was recognized as “the moral center of Silicon Valley and an O.G. in technology,” as Benjamin Jealous put it.

As a visionary who has addressed the issues of hidden bias in Silicon Valley, she was given a heartfelt recognition for her impact on diversity at the event, which was held at the Twitter headquarters in San Francisco on Dec. 4.

Kapor’s work through the LPFI Summer Math and Science Honors Academy (SMASH) has diversified the pipeline for people of color in the tech industry.

“Twitter and I have benefitted from Freada’s generosity, brain and heart and I am thrilled to support such a great woman and organization,” said Janet Van Huysse, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion at Twitter.

The event included a panel discussion moderated by David Loftesness, Director of Engineering at Twitter, and featured guest speaker former Vice President Al Gore.

“Freada is just amazing and her work is a testament to her beliefs,” said former Vice President Gore.

Benjamin Jealous, former NAACP President and CEO and Kapor Capital Partner, also spoke on the challenges and solutions for more diversity in the tech industry.

“Black men are incarcerated 3 times more than apartheid in South Africa – when you see all kids as your kid, mountains can be moved and outcomes can be changed,” he said, noting that California spends 15 percent of its budget on prisons and six percent on public universities.

“We are behind Singapore in education because Singapore invests more in poor youth than the rich,” Jealous continued, challenging the U.S. to invest more in education.

He also recognized LPFI President and Chief Education Officer Jarvis Sulcer for “being the only Black PhD in nuclear science in the year he graduated.”

“I’m rarely speechless – these students do all the work, this award and honor goes to these scholars,” said Kapor.

“This is an unprecedented moment in my career and people ask me when will I retire or do something different – well as soon as we end racism, I will take time out to do other things I like to do,” she said.

In her desire to expand the SMASH program, Kapor suggested that $500 million of the state prison budget be reinvested to give 10^th graders an opportunity to enter the program.

“That would be a bargain, considering the lives it would change and the benefit to our nation,” Kapor said.

For more information visit www.lpfi.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

9 hours 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

4 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.

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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

4 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.