By Michele Lamont

Special to The Post

William (“Bill”) Pierce Coburn, longtime Oakland architect who helped Oakland and Berkeley preserve its architectural heritage, passed away on July 24. He was 80 years old.

Coburn was born on May 10, 1944, in Melrose, Massachusetts, to Frank and Rachel Coburn. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Massachusetts College of Arts in 1966, and a master’s in architecture from Harvard School of Design in 1971.

In 1978, Coburn opened his own firm in Berkeley and eventually moved to West Oakland. He was passionate about the City of Oakland and found his calling in preserving Oakland’s architectural heritage. He spent many years as a professor of Architecture and Design at UC Berkeley as well as instructing at international universities in India and Hong Kong. Bill mentored many young architects from India, helping them to jump-start careers in the US.

Coburn’s process and design became a rare craft in the industry as he drafted entire home designs by hand without using any digital software. Many of his clients felt the drawings were more a work of art than just a blueprint. Many of his drawings are recorded in the UC Berkeley Architectural Archives.

Bill’s love for his community seeps through every crack in the sidewalk, where he planted flowers to beautify the land. It spans generations, where he worked as an architect to keep the historic beauty of Oakland and Berkeley alive through his dedication to restoration projects.

Bill was an integral member of the Oakland Heritage Alliance as a subject matter expert on the history of many significant historical buildings and sites.

He was an instrumental contributor to the City of Berkeley by selecting buildings to be moved and placed in the Delaware Street Historic District in West Berkeley.

Recognized by the City of Oakland for his work in the reconstruction of West Oakland after the massive, tragic destruction caused by the devastating 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, Bill volunteered countless hours of his time and skills as an architect to residents needing to rebuild their homes and their lives. He was a visionary designer contributing to the modern-day Mandela Parkway development, which is now a verdant artery of the community.

Bill’s dedication to community improvement is evident in nearly every Oakland neighborhood. Driving through the city, you will see trees he planted, houses and buildings he designed with his hands, and a community which is a little better than when he found it.

After becoming a newly graduated architect, Bill loaded his VW Minivan with his dog and a sleeping bag setting out on a journey to the West Coast. Little did he know he would find his calling in the City of Oakland where he saw the potential to build a better world.

The love he had for all of the people in his community was omnipresent, sharing all that he had to those who needed it. Bill and his wife, Subhashini (Sue), have led the First Presbyterian Church of Oakland’s Food Ministry program for over 20 years, guiding a team of 50 volunteers to deliver 15,000 meals a year to encampments, host special holiday events for the unhoused, and provide those in need with hot meals at the church each week.

He was a gracious father, husband and a very humble soft-spoken man. William Pierce Coburn passed away at 7:55 P.M. July 26 after a four-year battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Subhashini, and sons Rahul, Rajiv, and granddaughter Arjuna Rose.

A memorial service for Bill will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, 2619 Broadway, Sept. 7 at 11 a.m.

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By Tanu Henry, California Black Media

Nvidia, the tech leader in artificial intelligence and the third largest corporation in the world — valued at around $3.06 trillion – announced last week that it is partnering with California Black Media (CBM) to create a critical resource that will support Black-owned newspapers in the state.

The same week, Nvidia, based in Santa Clara, also announced a partnership with the state that will train educators and students across California.

“The public-private collaboration supports the state’s goals in workforce training and economic development by giving universities, community colleges and adult education programs in California the resources to gain skills in generative AI,” the Nvidia statement read.

With CBM, Nvidia will “train a large language model on nearly a century of journalism by Black journalists in the state.”

“We are excited to collaborate with NVIDIA to empower publishers in our sector,” said Regina Wilson, Executive Director of CBM. “This partnership places the Black Press at the forefront of journalism and technology, unlocking innovative opportunities that will drive the future of our industry.”

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By Tanu Henry, California Black Media

During the California Assembly floor session on Aug. 12, members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) joined their colleagues in the Legislature to approve statewide recognition of Black Girl Joy Day last week and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) week next month.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) 226, introduced by Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City) officially designated Aug. 10 as Black Girl Joy Day in California.

“This day is not just a celebration, but a profound acknowledgment of the vibrant roles that Black girls play in enriching our state’s diverse tapestry,” said Wilson.

“Black girls in California embody resilience, creativity and potential despite facing systemic challenges from a young age, including higher rates of school discipline and exposure to violence. They continue to make significant contributions across various fields,” added Wilson.

The Assembly voted 75-0 in favor of recognizing Black Girl Joy Day in California.

During that same floor session, the Assembly passed Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) 222 with a 76-0 vote.

ACR 222, introduced by Assemblymember Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa), officially designated the fourth week of September as Historically Black Colleges and Universities week in California.

“For hundreds of years Blacks were not allowed to attend American institutions of higher learning – not because we weren’t smart enough, but because of racism and segregation. So, we created our own institutions of higher learning,” said Weber, representing her alma mater, Xavier University, in a white and gold letterman cardigan.

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Weber noted that although HBCUs represent only 3% of institutions of higher learning in the country, they produce 24% of Black STEM professionals.

Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles) spoke about his experiences as a proud parent of Morehouse and Hampton graduates.

Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood) shared her perspective as the daughter of a Prairie View A&M Graduate. Her mother relocated from Texas to Los California, where she was born.

“In September of 2023, President Biden proclaimed September 24^th through 30^th as national HBCU week, Weber continued. “In an effort to align with what has already been done on the federal level, I respectfully ask for your I-vote on ACR 222 to declare the fourth week of September as HBCU week.

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