Oakland

Oakland Grown AB&I Foundry Celebrated its 113th Year

Published

7 years ago

August 24, 2019

The AB&I Foundry observed its 113th year in business by inviting their neighbors to join in a celebration of their century long tenure in Oakland on Aug. 17.

The open house was attended by elected officials, union representatives and a variety of community members, like Pastor LJ Jennings of Kingdom Builders Christian Fellowship.

“One hundred thirteen years! That is an amazing legacy, of great working-class jobs that pay a family supporting wage,” said Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf.

“I am very excited to work alongside of you to make sure that you are here for many centuries to come,” Schaaf said.

Michael Lowe, the general manager of the foundry said the foundry employs 225 people with high-paying, blue-and green-collar union jobs. This includes 80 families that live in east Oakland and many more that live in other parts of the city.

AB&I, located at 7825 San Leandro St., Oakland, takes auto scraps and other metal products destined for landfill and turns them into pipe and plumbing fittings, supplying the plumbing systems for many of Oakland’s largest buildings, explained Lowe.

Established in Oakland in 1906, the foundry specialized in small iron and brass castings. Today, the company is one of the country’s largest manufacturers of cast iron drain waste and vent plumbing products.

“We want to be part of Oakland for generations to come,” Lowe said.

“To provide high-paying. union jobs that build the fabric of Oakland society. And in order to do so, we recognize that we need to provide even more value to the city,” said Lowe.

The company is actively involved in clean-up efforts to mitigate illegal dumping with community-based organizations, according to Oakland Vice Mayor Larry Reid and Council President Rebecca Kaplan.

The company also works hard to promote employment opportunities for East Oakland residents, who live in an area where unemployment rates are persistently more than double those in other parts of the city.

By promoting employment for East Oakland residents through such groups as the Men of Valor foundation, which was founded by Bishop Bob Jackson of Acts-Full Gospel Church, they are able to support job training, life skills and re-entry services for formerly incarcerated Oakland residents

AB&I’s team members have also provided countless volunteer hours at local schools, libraries, and the Alameda County Food Bank.

“You know what an important role AB&I plays in making sure that we recover the metals we use… We don’t want to waste anything,” said State Senator Nancy Skinner. “Anything that is a valuable resource, we want to use it again, again, and again. That’s how we protect our planet. That’s how we protect our people. That’s what AB&I Foundry does.”

California’s air quality and environmental regulatory requirements are among the toughest in the country, said an AB&I spokesperson. He cited their use of state-of-the-art pollution control technology as a basis for the foundry to meet and, in most cases, exceed California’s strict standards.

“Here at AB&I, we are able to provide growth and development opportunities through jobs where engaged, motivated, and ambitious people have the ability to learn and develop strong trade skills in manufacturing right here in Oakland,” said Kurt Winter, Executive Vice President of the McWane Plumbing Group, parent company of AB&I Foundry.

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Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of March 18 – 24, 2026

Published

3 days ago

March 22, 2026

Oakland Post

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Advice

Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

Published

1 week ago

March 17, 2026

Oakland Post

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC