Activism

Community Building 101: We’re All in This Together

A coalition of community volunteers distributed free meals to the unsheltered at the intersection of High Street and International Boulevard on June 10. It showed what the community can and will do when we work together. Joining together in this effort were Formally Incarcerated Giving Back (FIGB), Big Mamas Best Memorial Bereavement Foundation, the African American Sports and Entertainment Group (AASEG), the Diplomat’s Center Inc. and Bishop Mario Gaines who blessed the meals.

Published

3 years ago

June 22, 2023

Oakland Post

Members of the unhoused community enjoy meals offered by a coalition of Oakland organizations on June 10. Photo by Jonathan ‘Fitness’ Jones.

By Richard Johnson

A coalition of community volunteers distributed free meals to the unsheltered at the intersection of High Street and International Boulevard on June 10.

It showed what community can and will do when we work together.

Joining together in this effort were Formally Incarcerated Giving Back (FIGB), Big Mamas Best Memorial Bereavement Foundation, the African American Sports and Entertainment Group (AASEG), the Diplomat’s Center Inc. and Bishop Mario Gaines who blessed the meals.

This was a showing of activism by concerned groups making a difference in the community. These various groups realized the need for active and productive change, so they united to make this event happen. Each entity, like FIGB, seeks to provide the necessities for underserved communities.

AASEG has a plan to rebuild the community through affordable housing and livable wage jobs as well as bringing sports and entertainment back to Oakland. Diplomat’s Center Inc. provides re-entry transitional housing for returning citizens.

These groups also volunteer with Charles Reed’s 5,000 Returning Family Members Voters Registration Campaign along with the Uncuffed Project which is utilizing the tiny homes initiative to acquire available space.

These projects have combined their efforts to bring better working conditions for those trying to forge their livelihood under the common expression “it takes a village to raise a child.”

These community-based and re-entry organizations have adopted the motto “it takes a unified effort to change the negative to a positive on a societal level.”

This collaboration has embraced the belief that working, and volunteering together is a necessity if we as a people, as a community, and as a restored society can make a real difference in each other’s lives.

There are far too many available resources to deter our march for a victory over poverty, crime, unemployment, and the pursuit of happiness.