Berkeley

Oakland NAACP Hosts Phenomenal Women Awards

Published

8 years ago

March 30, 2018

NAACP celebrates phenomenal women of the community at the African American Museum and Library of Oakland. Front row, from left to right: Allie Whitehurst, Chairperson; Honorees: Lisa Landry, Lucella Harrison, Doris Limbrick; Middle row: Cynthia Adams, NAACP 2nd Vice President, Honorees: Robin Thomas, Dominica Maggard, Alicia Murphy, Robyn Fisher, Gay Cobb, Joyce Gordon, Patrice Waugh, Electra Kimble Price (not shown); Back row: Lisa Landry, Co-Chairperson, Reverend Dr. Jacquelyn Thompson, MC. Photo by Paul Cobb.

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Women’s Committee of the Oakland NAACP celebrated several generations of women leaders at the African American Museum and Library in Oakland Saturday, March 24. The Phenomenal Women Awards program honored 14 women, three posthumously.

Chief Executive Director of the Oakland Private Industry Council, Inc. (PIC), Gay Plair Cobb, was honored for her 35 years of activism in Oakland. Cobb spoke of her interactions with Martin Luther King, Jr. and hopes that sometime soon the world will not have to be reminded that “Black Lives Matter.” Cobb participated in the historic freedom rides leading to the desegregation of lunch counters.

Joyce Gordon, owner of Joyce Gordon Gallery spoke of wanting to ensure Black people have a space to showcase their talent. Through her non-profit she nurtures young artists. “I now focus on programs for the youth to cultivate their creativity,” she said.

Educator Lucella Thomas Harrison served Oakland for 36 years as teacher, administrator for Cole Elementary School and an office administrator for the Oakland Unified School District. She also served on the Oakland School Board for District 3.

Dr. Doris Limbrick, senior associate pastor of Acts Full Gospel Church of God in Christ spoke of what a joy it has been to serve her community with her brother, Bob Jackson, pastor of Acts Full Gospel Church. She now serves women with her GirlTalk Ministry. “It is important to hold spaces for women to come together as Christian women in and outside of the church,” she said.

Electra Kimble Price, who worked for the Oakland Unified School District’s Superintendent’s office, was honored for her commitment to youth and education. Dr. Robyn Fisher, president of R.T. Fisher Enterprises, was recognized for her work in preparing students for college. Lisa Landry, founder of the Oakland Homegrown Project, was awarded for her mission of supporting underprivileged youth.

For her support of single parents raising children, Alicia Murphy was honored. Murphy’s favorite scripture is; Proverbs 3: 5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Howard University graduate Robin Thomas was one of the first Black nurses with a BSN degree to work for Doctors Hospital in Pinole. Thomas was recognized for her commitment to public health.

Dominica Zone Maggard, of LifeLong Medical Care was honored for her dedication to improving the disparities in healthcare. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in social work.

Patricia Waugh, founder of Bright Star Residential Care Home was awarded for her work with developmentally and mentally challenged patients in Oakland. Community advocate Allie Whitehurst was surprised with a recognition for her continued support and excellence in the areas of education and civil rights.

Legacy honorees included Marcella Ford, Tarea (Ty) Hall Pittman and Lillian Potts. Educator Marcella Ford lived to be 100 years old and was recognized as one of the contributing founders of the African American Museum and Library of Oakland.

Community activist, Tarea (Ty) Hall Pittman was active in the NAACP and organized protests to force war industries to hire African American Workers during World War II.
She lived to be 88 years of age and the South Branch Library in Berkeley was named in her honor in 2015.

Berkeley Victory Democratic Club leader and Civil Rights activist, Lillian Potts lived to be 92. During her lifetime she was an active member of the NAACP and sponsored the youth programs for five years.

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Activism

Black Repertory Group Needs Volunteers to Help Shape the Next Generation of Artists and Leaders

Legendary performers such as Whoopi Goldberg and Danny Glover worked with and were inspired by BRG’s founders. More recently, Grammy award-winning artist Kehlani attended the Black Repertory Group Summer Day Camp for several years.

Published

3 weeks ago

June 26, 2026

Oakland Post

Courtesy image.

By Sean Vaughn Scott, Special to The Post

For more than 60 years, the Black Repertory Group (BRG) has changed lives through the arts.

Founded in 1964 by educators and visionaries Birel L. Vaughn and Nora Vaughn, BRG has become one of America’s oldest continuously operating Black theater institutions. For generations, it has preserved culture, developed talent, and provided opportunities for young people to discover their voices and their potential.

The results speak for themselves.

Long before international recognition, Kehlani performed on the BRG stage. During a summer day camp production of “Princess and da Frog,” she portrayed Ray, the lovable firefly whose light guided others through the darkness. Her journey is proof that today’s camper may become tomorrow’s artist, entrepreneur, educator, or leader.

Located at 3201 Adeline St. in Berkeley, BRG continues that mission through its Youth Summer Day Camp of the Arts.

BRG is currently accepting applications and maintains an open enrollment program. Students may enroll throughout the summer as space permits and immediately become part of the BRG family.

We are also proud to be a multicultural opportunity program, welcoming children and families from all backgrounds, cultures, and communities. Through theater, music, dance, public speaking, visual arts, technical theater, and leadership development, students gain confidence, discipline, creativity, and lifelong skills.

As our programs grow, so does our need for volunteers.

We are seeking community members to assist with youth mentoring, registration, costumes, set construction, painting, props, ushering, photography, social media, marketing, technical theater, and fundraising activities. Whether you volunteer for a few hours or throughout the season, your support directly impacts the lives of young people.

BRG also partners with churches, civic organizations, alumni associations, fraternities, sororities, and community groups through theater party fundraisers, group sales, and buy-out performances. These partnerships have helped organizations raise funds while supporting arts and cultural programming.

The theater also serves as the home of the Berkeley NAACP Chapter, which meets every second Saturday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m.

For more than six decades, the Black Repertory Group has remained committed to one belief: every child deserves an opportunity to shine.

The next great artist may already be among us.

The next Kehlani may already be walking through our doors.

We invite you to volunteer, enroll, participate, and become part of the legacy.

For more information please go to www.blackrepertorygroup.com, call (510) 652-2120, or email info@blackrepertorygroup.com

Sean Vaughn Scott is the director of the Black Repertory Group.

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Bay Area

UC Berkeley Named Top Public University in the U.S. and No. 7 in the World by ‘U.S. News’

Berkeley has been consistently awarded the distinction of the U.S.’s top public university since the Best Global Universities list was first published in 2014. “A strong position in the Best Global Universities rankings recognizes a school’s profound commitment to world-class research and cross-border academic excellence,” said LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News.

Published

3 weeks ago

June 24, 2026

Oakland Post

Photo by Keegan Houser/UC Berkeley.

The 2026 Best Global Universities rankings evaluated 2,250 research institutions from more than 100 countries

By Lila Thulin

U.S. News & World Report has ranked UC Berkeley No. 7 in its 2026 list of the best global universities, which assesses more than 2,250 research institutions worldwide.

Berkeley also claimed the honor of top public university in the U.S.

Released on Monday, the list evaluates universities from more than 100 countries on 13 metrics such as global and research reputation (as reported by academics and peers) and number of highly cited scholarly papers.

Berkeley has been consistently awarded the distinction of the U.S.’s top public university since the Best Global Universities list was first published in 2014.

“A strong position in the Best Global Universities rankings recognizes a school’s profound commitment to world-class research and cross-border academic excellence,” said LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News.

The rankings also assess a university’s strength in various subject areas; these assessments are separate from U.S. News’ 2026 Best Graduate Programs rankings released in April.

This year, Berkeley was named in the top three nationally in seven subject areas – environment/ecology, ecology, water resources, physics, computer science, chemistry, and engineering – and in the top five for a total of 17 subjects. Subject rankings are based heavily on scholarly publications and citations as well as reputation.

In September, U.S. News also released its 2026 Best Colleges list, in which Berkeley was also named the No. 1 public institution among American universities.

That honor joins other accolades judging campus to be the best public university in the country, such as those from Forbes, The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education.

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Arts and Culture

Farwest Region Deltas Celebrate Centennial With “September Breakfast” Honoring Vivian Osborne Marsh

The region was established in 1925 under the leadership of Vivian Osborne Marsh, who became its first Regional Director. Marsh was a pioneering scholar and civic leader, earning recognition as the first Black woman to receive both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in anthropology from UC Berkeley.

Published

10 months ago

September 14, 2025

Oakland Post

Farwest Regional Director, Kimberly Usher, Mayor Barbara Lee, US Representative Lateefah Simon, and Farwest Regional Representative, Radiya Ajibade. Photo courtesy of Farwest Regional Photographer Vicki P. Love.

By Antoinette Porter

Hundreds of members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and their guests gathered at the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union at the University of California, Berkeley, to mark the 100th anniversary of the sorority’s Farwest Region.

Marsh went on to serve as Delta Sigma Theta’s 7th National President, where she launched the sorority’s National Library Project to expand access to books in underserved Black communities in the South. During her presidency, the organization also became a prominent voice in the civil rights movement, lobbying Congress to pass anti-lynching legislation.

Bak in the Bay Area, Marsh devoted her career to advancing educational opportunities, mentoring young people, and strengthening community life. That commitment continues to shape the region, which supports initiatives in education, social justice, and economic development. Current projects include raising scholarship funds for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, voter education campaigns, and health and wellness programs.

A century after its founding, the Farwest Region of Delta Sigma Theta remains active across California and other western states, carrying forward Marsh’s vision of service and advocacy.