#NNPA BlackPress

Mayor Eric Garcetti and Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson Celebrate the Groundbreaking for Homeless Housing Development in South Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL — The Pointe on Vermont, a 50-unit mixed-use affordable housing development with commercial space on the ground floor, also including a recording studio to keep the youth out of the streets. EAH Housing, which is an affordable housing nonprofit has partnered with A2Z Enterprise, a Black and woman-owned real estate development firm to aid in the fight against homelessness creating a space specifically meant for transitioning and displaced residents.

Published

7 years ago

September 14, 2019

Oakland Post

Photo by: lasentinel.net

By Saybin Roberson

EAH Housing and A2Z Enterprise, along with Mayor Eric Garcetti and Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson broke ground at 7600 Vermont Avenue in South Los Angeles on September 4, 2019.

“Today, that’s what this is about, this is about saying to every Angeleno ‘you belong,’” Mayor Garcetti says excitedly about the new community and progress the city has been making to end homelessness.

The Pointe on Vermont, a 50-unit mixed-use affordable housing development with commercial space on the ground floor, also including a recording studio to keep the youth out of the streets. EAH Housing, which is an affordable housing nonprofit has partnered with A2Z Enterprise, a Black and woman-owned real estate development firm to aid in the fight against homelessness creating a space specifically meant for transitioning and displaced residents.

Funding for The Pointe on Vermont will be provided by the city of Los Angeles through Measure HHH, a $1.2 billion bond allowing construction of 8,000 to 10,000 affordable units for the homeless and at-risk population around Los Angeles County. The measure also provides mental health care, drug and alcohol treatment and other services for residents. The Pointe on Vermont will be no different.

The four-story building, which will be constructed by FSY Architects, will provide housing for individuals 60 percent below the area median income (AMI). In further efforts to keep residents from homelessness, The Pointe on Vermont will also partner with St. Joseph’s Center to provide onsite support and resident services to help maintain health, well-being, and self-sufficiency.

“We know what secure affordable housing does. It allows people to get that good job, to fall in love, to be able to pursue their passions in life, it allows them to stabilize their lives,” Mayor Garcetti says, adding, “we know the solution to homelessness is housing.”

Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson also shared a moment of gratitude with and how he also became acquainted with EAH Housing. He, along with the team at A2Z and EAH visited multiple neighborhood councils, local churches, and the community to work within to build a space everyone wanted.

“Today, I’m proud to say we got there, with the community; we got there with the city, and we got there with the county of Los Angeles,” Councilmember Harris-Dawson stated.

“That’s how we’ll solve homelessness in the city of Los Angeles,” he continues. “EAH and the Vermont community is putting a big downpayment on that today and we thank you for it.”

Antonia Feemster, owner of A2Z Enterprises also shared her remarks as her father bought the land years ago, she now will carry his legacy and dedication to the community to give back on her end.

She shared her excitement regarding the ground floor which will house retail spaces and the recording studio created to help youth find healthy ways to express themselves through music.

“Music therapy is an amazing gift that’s been given to us by God, and to be able to have music be a great starting point in people’s lives and to be able to change people’s lives, we are really excited about that.”

“I remember coming here as a kid and my dad always talked about his vision was to revitalize Vermont,” Feemster stated, she was also joined by her brother Garry Zeigler. “This is something our parents and I always dreamed of.”

The Pointe on Vermont is expected to finish the construction Winter of 2020. For more information visit https://www.pointeonvermont.com/.

This article originally appeared in The Los Angeles Sentinel.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

What Local Parents Teach Their Children About Racial Bias

Don't Miss

Taste of Soul Spotlight: Malik Books

Oakland Post

Click to comment

#NNPA BlackPress

Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”
The post The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.” appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 weeks ago

August 29, 2026

Oakland Post

By Jana Lang Propel Youth Reporter

Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA) and Youth Alive! came together on Aug. 21 to share with their community all that Black August means to them.

Held on EOBA’s patio at 816 98th Ave. in Deep East Oakland, the two organizations hosted their second annual Black August Experience, featuring a food tasting, financial literacy and mindfulness workshops, and voter registration with the League of Women Voters Oakland (LWV).

Black August is known as a time to uphold the legacy of prisoners who protested their conditions by fasting, fighting, and educating themselves on the economic and political circumstances that contributed to their incarceration.

According to its website, “EOBA is a multi-service youth and community development hub that goes far beyond the ring. While rooted in the discipline of boxing, for nearly 40 years EOBA has also integrated robust programs in workforce development, food justice, afterschool enrichment, financial literacy, mentorship, and wellness.”.

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”

Through Coro California, another leadership organization serving young people across the state for 80 years, they gained a broader understanding of Black August.

EOBA Executive Director Dawna Williams spoke about how much she learned about Black August from the youth who created it. “I let them educate me,” she said. Instead of talking about prison reform and mass incarceration, Williams and youth interns found that Black August meant so much more. “We would have done a disservice if we had just focused on who the people were and what their situation was…We tried to take their message from back in the day and make it relevant to the young people today. What do they need to know?”

Youth interns created and placed posters around the patio to help participants understand how traditional Black foodways, civic engagement, financial literacy, and the power of education are relevant to Black resistance today.

An EOBA member described Black August with Youth ALIVE! as “a whole vibe. “This year we added the Fun Zone for the kids, because you really cannot go wrong with a Fun Zone. I also loved seeing everyone chillin’ in the outdoor lounge, catching some Vitamin D and just enjoying a Friday evening together.”

The food tasting, a popular event from last year, featured traditional Black foods such as black-eyed peas, johnny cakes, and fried chicken. Led by Williams, the tasting included a talk about how these traditional foods were made and why they are forms of Black resilience.

The “‘Plate of History’ was a favorite of the online writers. “Fun, educational, and did I mention delicious? Our Taste of History cook, Angela Southall, served up some good eats while connecting food to history and culture.”

The writer also commended the “League of Women Voters Oakland for their civic leadership and for getting our young people informed, ready, and registered to vote.”

Overall, it was a “good Friday event in East Oakland,” the writer said.

Upcoming Black August events: Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS), will host “Black August: The Arc of Liberation” at Oakland City Hall on Sat. Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The websites for East Oakland Boxing Association, Youth Alive! and CORO are sources for this report.

Jana Lang is an Oakland resident, teacher, gardener and poet participating in the Propel News Initiative.

The post The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.” appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

#NNPA BlackPress

EV Home Charging Warning: What Dealerships Won’t Tell You! #shorts

Is your home EV charging setup ready? Dealerships may not warn you about critical outlet and circuit needs. Find out before you plug in!
The post EV Home Charging Warning: What Dealerships Won’t Tell You! #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 weeks ago

August 29, 2026

Oakland Post

Dealerships won’t tell you: charging this big battery at home isn’t always simple. Verify your outlet capacity, circuit, and setup before assuming level one or basic outdoor outlets will suffice.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/A9Cd2SspoaQ

#AutoNetwork

The post EV Home Charging Warning: What Dealerships Won’t Tell You! #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

#NNPA BlackPress

Car Buying Secrets: Dealership Traps & How to Avoid Them #shorts

Don’t get tricked at the dealership! Learn essential car buying secrets to secure the best deal and avoid hidden traps.
The post Car Buying Secrets: Dealership Traps & How to Avoid Them #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 weeks ago

August 29, 2026

Oakland Post

Before stepping into a dealership, secure bank pre-approval for your financing rate. Then, get the out-the-door price in writing. Never discuss monthly payments until that number is fixed. Test road noise and rear visibility yourself. Decline add-ons with a simple ‘Not today’. Check backseat space with your tallest household member.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/maAOBjO1puY

#AutoNetwork

The post Car Buying Secrets: Dealership Traps & How to Avoid Them #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.