Activism
New Community Leadership Foundation Inaugural Awards
NCLF Executive Director Majeid Crawford said the event was created to not only recognize individuals and organizations crucial to the vibrance and survival of San Francisco’s Black community, but to allow the community to network. “We are passionate about creating positive change in our communities, and that happens when we work together,” said Crawford.
By Carla Thomas
The New Community Leadership Foundation (NCLF) hosted an awards ceremony at the Japan Town Center’s KOHO Co-Creative Hub in San Francisco, recognizing representatives of the arts, nonprofit, small business, and advocacy sectors.
Honorees at the Dec. 12 event included the American Businesswomen’s Association’s San Francisco Enterprising Women Networking Chapter, the Flood Project, the Brown Bombers, the Jonathan Carver Moore Gallery, and Mackey’s Korner.
NCLF Executive Director Majeid Crawford said the event was created to not only recognize individuals and organizations crucial to the vibrance and survival of San Francisco’s Black community, but to allow the community to network. “We are passionate about creating positive change in our communities, and that happens when we work together,” said Crawford.
Lynette Mackey was presented the Community Impact Award for her Suicide Block Party, that raises awareness around suicide prevention and mental health. By fostering community engagement, offering crisis intervention, and providing long-term support, Mackey’s Korner helps save lives.
The Innovative Leadership Award was presented to Arthur Stern, Jr. of the FLOOD Project, “Forever Living Out Our Dreams.” Stern, Jr., aka Yung Lott, created a soundtrack featuring transitional aged youth from the Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood of San Francisco.
The music provides listeners with powerful themes of inspiration, resilience, and hope. “It’s a completely clean album,” said MC Kimberly Caldwell.
“This exceptional body of work is a reflection of Yung Lott’s unwavering dedication to the community, offering a soundtrack of resilience and hope with uplifting hymns designed to support listeners through any day,” said Crawford. “This project beautifully captures the essence of living out dreams and driving meaningful change.”
ABWA President LaRonda “Sug” Smith, with Vice President Velma Landers, received the Equity Champion Award.
This is quite an honor,” said ABWA Vice President Velma Landers. “Our organization serves businesswomen from diverse fields by providing invaluable opportunities for personal and professional growth through leadership, education, and networking support.”
Jonathan Carver Moore, a gallerist at 966 Market St., was awarded the Visionary Leadership Award for his commitment to creating an artist space for underrepresented artists.
A grant with support from the Dream Keeper Initiative, the Office of Economic & Workforce Development, and the SF Arts Commission, supported his innovative artist-in-residency program in a 2,600-square-foot retail space, designed to revitalize vacant spaces and drive collective impact.
Ronan Ross received the Youth Empowerment Award on behalf of the San Francisco Brown Bombers. The organization was founded in September 1999 at the request of community stakeholders, with the mission of providing San Francisco’s youth with a football and cheer program that teaches the fundamentals in a fun and safe environment.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of September 9 – 15, 2026
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 9 – 15, 2026
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Activism
Oakland Post: Week of September 2 – 8, 2026
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 2 – 8, 2026
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Activism
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.”
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.
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