In her 80s and still actively working as an agricultural engineer, Effie Gant continues to break barriers in urban farming and community leadership.

The certified USDA grower and respected urban farmer, based in South Sacramento, was recently spotted vending at the Freedom Farmers’ Market by the Temescal Street Fair on Saturday, July 11, where she proudly displayed dozens of sweet, juicy watermelons.

Festivalgoers gathered not only to purchase her produce but also to enjoy activities like the popular watermelon-eating contest. Yet beyond the festive atmosphere, Gant has a larger vision.

Gant is now setting her sights on the Bay Area, where she plans to launch a farmers’ market to increase access to fresh, locally grown food.

Known for her leadership in sustainable agriculture and food justice, she brings decades of hands-on experience and community advocacy to regions where food access remains inconsistent.

She has built a strong reputation through her work with Meadowview Urban Farm and the Yisrael Family Urban Farm, cultivating crops such as watermelons, honeydew melons, and collard greens. Her approach emphasizes sustainability, education, and empowering residents to grow their own food, even in small urban spaces. 

As a USDA-certified grower, Gant blends technical expertise with grassroots engagement to combat food insecurity.

Beyond farming, Gant serves as CEO and President of Highways to Hedges, a nonprofit focused on environmental justice and community development. She is also president of the Hampton Station Neighborhood Association and board chairman for HHCORE, where she advocates for safety, equity, and economic opportunity.

Her proposed farmers market will connect small-scale farmers with urban communities while elevating Black farmers and other underrepresented growers.

“I want to teach the next generation about farming and how lucrative it can be,” Gant said. “You don’t need hundreds of acres. You can start with one acre or even your backyard.”Gant also noted her involvement in a collective of farmers who supply produce through government-supported programs.

“We operate as a team, and we all benefit,” she said.

Through workshops, speaking engagements, and hands-on training, Gant and her organization continue to educate communities about agriculture and food justice. Her market initiative will emphasize affordability, cultural relevance, and nutrition education.

Her broader work includes creating edible forests in partnership with Soil Born Farms, planting fruit trees directly in neighborhoods to expand food access. As a mentor with the Center of Expertise on Food Justice and Health Equity, Gant remains a leading voice in building sustainable and resilient food systems.

Gant says she welcomes the community to join her in creating a new farmer’s market. 

“Farming is essential to life,” she said. “I want to train as many people as I can to use food and farming as a tool for empowerment, health, and long-term change.”

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Special to The Post

On June 30, a coalition of minority business leaders, contractors and others met with Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee to discuss the City’s commitment to implement recommendations outlined in Oakland’s Disparity Study and eliminate barriers that have historically prevented Black and minority-owned businesses from fully participating in public contracting opportunities.

Representatives of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce (OAACC), National Association of Minority Contractors Northern California (NAMC NorCal), Construction Resource Center (CRC), and the East Bay Rental Housing Association (EBRHA) said the meeting represented an important milestone in a process that has been underway for several months.

On April 21, the Oakland City Council’s Life Enrichment Committee received a progress report from the Department of Workplace and Employment Standards (DWES), where Director Emylene Aspilla presented the coalition’s working document and outlined a collaborative implementation plan between the coalition and the City. That report established 30-, 60-, and 90-day objectives focused on five key priorities:

• Reforming Local and Small Local Business Enterprise (L/SLBE) waiver practices
• Strengthening prompt payment compliance
• Improving procurement forecasting and transparency
• Expanding contractor capacity building and business development
• Increasing oversight, accountability, and public reporting

A series of working sessions was scheduled between coalition representatives, DWES, and the City Administrator’s Office to begin implementing those priorities but were temporarily delayed by the resignation of former City Administrator Jestin Johnson.

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Rather than allowing that momentum to stall, OAACC President and CEO Cathy Adams requested a meeting with Lee to gain clarity on the City’s direction and reaffirm its commitment to implementing the recommendations contained within the Disparity Study.

Coalition leaders described the meeting as productive, candid, collaborative, and encouraging.

During the meeting, Lee spoke not only from her role as mayor but also from her experience as an 8(a) contractor and business owner, sharing that she understands firsthand what it takes to build and grow a successful company, employ a substantial workforce, compete for public work, and navigate the complexities of municipal contracting.

She committed to ensuring the coalition has direct access to City leadership by designating Assistant Deputy City Administrator Chuck Baker the primary liaison. Working alongside Deputy City Administrator Sofia Navarro, DWES Director Emylene Aspilla, Race and Equity Director Darlene Flynn, and other City departments, the coalition will continue advancing these priorities while maintaining regular communication with City leadership.

Mayor Lee also expressed her commitment to personally participate in future working meetings with the coalition.

“This meeting represents a renewed commitment to partnership,” said Adams. “Mayor Lee listened, engaged, and demonstrated that she wants to move beyond conversation and into implementation.”

CRC’s Len Turner said the roadmap is already in place. ““The City already has the evidence. What’s been missing is execution. …Now it’s time to deliver results.”

Mario Wagner, president of NAMC NorCal agreed that the next phase must focus on implementation, funding, and accountability.

“The coalition is ready to get to work. …The next step is ensuring these initiatives receive meaningful funding in the upcoming fiscal budget cycle. Just as important, the City must establish transparent reporting mechanisms that keep the public informed through regular progress reports, measurable benchmarks, and accountability.”

Coalition leaders also acknowledged that while City leadership has indicated it is reviewing Local and Small Local Business Enterprise waiver practices, the community continues to seek a formal response regarding existing long-term waivers, including waivers extending 10 and 25 years. The coalition believes those waivers should be comprehensively reviewed and, where appropriate, rolled back as part of the City’s broader contracting reforms.

The coalition is also calling on the City to include meaningful funding in the upcoming fiscal budget cycle to support implementation of the Disparity Study recommendations and establish better methods and mechanisms to keep the public informed through regular progress reports, measurable benchmarks, and transparent accountability.

The coalition’s immediate next step is to schedule a working meeting with Baker, Aspilla, Lee, and the appropriate City staff to review what has already been accomplished under the implementation framework.

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By Dr. Maritony Jones

OAKLAND, Calif. — For more than a decade, Oakland-based nonprofit Gameheads has been transforming the lives of young people by turning a passion for video games into pathways toward careers in technology. This summer, the Black-led organization is expanding that mission by launching Gameheads KIDS, a new five-week program designed to inspire children ages 8 to 11.

Running July 13 through Aug. 13, the Kids summer program introduces children to coding, digital art, storytelling, animation, and game design through hands-on activities that encourage creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking.

Founded more than 12 years ago by Damon Packwood, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Gameheads was created to bridge the opportunity gap facing many Oakland youth despite living in the heart of the world’s technology capital. Mr. Packwood, whose background includes leadership roles with Juma Ventures, Hack the Hood, and Upward Bound, has dedicated his career to making technology education accessible to young people from underserved communities.

“Parents are using apps, tablets, and online games to provide children with digital literacy skills. But, some of these platforms have predatory models that are not in a child’s best interest,” said Packwood. “By combining analog and digital activities that are disconnected from the internet, we can provide that very same experience in a safe, child-friendly, and most of all fun environment.”

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Packwood’s vision has grown into a nationally recognized nonprofit that connects students with nearly 200 volunteer mentors from the gaming and technology industries, including professionals who have contributed to games like Minecraft and Marvel’s Spider-Man. Through partnerships with companies such as Sony PlayStation, Microsoft Xbox, Autodesk, and other industry leaders, Gameheads has helped prepare students for successful careers in technology, with many graduates earning $75,000 to more than $100,000 in entry-level positions.

Now, Gameheads is introducing those opportunities even earlier.

Learning Through Play

The new Gameheads KIDS program is built on the belief that children learn best through play. Instead of simply playing video games, campers will discover how games are imagined, designed, and created while developing skills that extend far beyond the screen.

Throughout the five-week experience, students will explore Scratch coding, digital illustration using drawing tablets, storytelling, technical art, animation, board games, arts and crafts, physical movement, and STEAM-based learning that encourages creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving.

No previous coding or gaming experience is required—just curiosity and a willingness to learn, organizers say.

Gameheads Program Manager Randi Dean says the program is about creating opportunities that can shape a child’s future.

“I believe in the mission of Gameheads, and that is what has drawn me to them,” Mrs. Dean said. “We give young people opportunities to change the trajectory of their lives and break away from predetermined narratives.”

Families interested in enrolling are encouraged to register soon, as space is limited.

Gameheads KIDS Summer Program (Pilot Program)

• Dates: July 13 – Aug.13/ Schedule: Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

For registration and more information, visit GameHeadsOakland.org or email damon@gameheadsoakland.org

More than a summer camp, Gameheads KIDS is an investment in Oakland’s future—giving young minds the confidence, creativity, and technical skills to imagine new possibilities and become tomorrow’s innovators.

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