Activism

Oakland Council Leadership Call for Pay Equity, Investigation of DVP Deputy Chief’s Termination

Councilmember At-Large and Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan stated, “It is essential to end all acts of discrimination by this administration – and these allegations of misconduct and pay disparity – and alleged retaliation – warrant a direct response, investigation, and remedy. The decisions that are the subject of this alleged misconduct never came to the City Council. Since the City Council voted to fund a Deputy Chief of Violence Prevention, and never authorized eliminating that position. I urge that we schedule this issue to Council directly. We must take action to undo inappropriate actions and take further steps to ensure that race and gender discrimination are not tolerated.”

Published

4 years ago

April 3, 2022

Oakland Post

Dr. Sarai Crain, former deputy director of Oakland’s Dept. of Violence Prevention.

By Kimberly Jones

In collaboration with Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas, President Pro Tem Sheng Thao, and Councilmember Carroll Fife, Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan is calling for Pay Equity in the City of Oakland. Vice Mayor Kaplan has submitted two scheduling requests to ensure that the City Administration investigate and rectify the abrupt termination of The Violence Prevention Department’s deputy chief.

The public’s comment and committee member’s concerns raised for the DVP Item #7b, at the Monday, March 28th Public Safety and Services Violence Prevention Oversight Commission (SSOC) indicates a need to investigate the elimination of a high-level position from the Council-budgeted roster of personnel in the Department of Violence Prevention (DVP).

Members of the Oversight Commission expressed deep concern with what appears to be an abrupt termination of Dr. Sarai Crain from her deputy chief of Violence Prevention position from the City of Oakland. In the meeting, the Commission Chair stated that there was no conversation with the SSOC about this major shift and that this matter would have to go before the City Council as the Commission has no jurisdictional authority to impact the decision.

Crain personally participated in the meeting saying that her termination was not based on performance, rather it was related to her push for equitable compensation in the DVP. This assertion was presented to the City Council and Administration in a letter sent Friday, March 25, 2022, by attorneys retained by Crain.

In a statement addressing the letter and public outcry, Fife said, “It’s important to look into the claims being made in this matter so we avoid perpetuating a practice of diminishing talented, experienced women, particularly women of color, in leadership positions. It is International Women’s History Month and gender equity should be the bare minimum of what we aspire to at the City of Oakland.”

“Every day, not just during Women’s History Month, it’s absolutely urgent to ensure pay equity and a workplace free from gender discrimination,” said Bas. “These claims are deeply troubling and must be investigated and resolved immediately. Dr. Sarai Crain is a well-respected advocate against gender-based violence. Her departure has been deeply felt by those of us working to end human trafficking, which is centered in my district in the San Antonio neighborhood. Having championed last year’s investment in expanding the Department of Violence Prevention, I want to ensure we have strong leadership to implement Oakland’s vision for community healing and safety.”

Thao states, “These allegations are incredibly serious and must be investigated thoroughly. The gender pay gap is very real and persistent in this country. In Oakland, of all places, one of the most progressive, forwarding-thinking cities in America, it is unconscionable that this discriminatory practice would be allowed to go on. We must do all that we can to ensure equal pay for equal work. Equity is an Oakland value. Equity is an American value. It is my hope that this matter can be settled quickly, and Dr. Crain can return to the critical work of violence prevention in Oakland.”

Kimberly Jones is the chief of staff to Vice Mayor Kaplan.

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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

Published

21 hours ago

September 7, 2026

Oakland Post

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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.”

Published

1 week ago

August 29, 2026

Post News Group

Dawna Williams, EOBA executive director speaks to attendees at the Black August Eperience on Aug. 21. Photo courtesy of Carolyn Flynn of EOBA.

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.