Uncategorized

School Principal Sylvia Greenwood Follows in Family’s Footsteps

Published

13 years ago

March 22, 2013

Oakland Post

Dr. Sylvia Greenwood

By Kyra Worthy

Dr. Sylvia Greenwood often remembers a quote her father kept on his desk as a teacher, principal and later interim superintendent of West Contra Costa Unified School District: “It is better to build children than to repair men.”
It’s a phrase that the longtime Richmond educator carries with her when she is motivating other teachers as principal of DeJean Middle School or checking in with students who consider her a mentor and trusted advisor.
And it’s a saying that sums up her own teaching philosophy as an educator in Richmond who has earned a reputation as an advocate for mental health services in Richmond schools.
“I am the cousin, friend, grandma, auntie all rolled into one for some of my students,” Greenwood said.
“I have kids that come and check on me, too. If they don’t see me outside for lunch, they come to my office to make sure I am OK.”
Born and raised in Richmond to a family of well-known educators, Greenwood always knew she wanted to work with children in some capacity.
She watched her father Sylvester Greenwood transform Richmond schools during his long career as a teacher and later as first African American interim superintendent in Richmond, touching the lives of the children and teachers he worked with.
“My dad, he listened to people,” she said. “He would take the time to hear their situation and their story when most people would shuffle them on.”
While finishing her teaching degree, she became an aide at Harbor Way, a behavior modification program in Richmond that was known as one of the toughest schools in the district. Greenwood worked with other teachers to devise plans for student success, building systems to help students earn points and earn their way into a mainstream classroom.
But she noticed that many students would purposely relapse so that they could stay at Harbor Way – and remain in the supportive, nurturing environment they had grown comfortable with.
“That resonated with me,” she said. “I now try to put supports in place so that students continue moving forward. These supports might include somebody neutral to talk to, mentor services or just some added support outside the classroom.”
As a principal, she makes an extra effort to listen to teachers, who she said also need support.
And as a principal at DeJean, Richmond’s only public middle school, Greenwood has placed an additional emphasis on mental health services. This year she helped implement a restorative justice program where students are able to really talk through their issues and the underlying motives behind their behavior problems. Student punishments are determined by peers.
“It has given us another layer of how we listen to kids,” she said, pointing out that the program has resulted in a 79 percent drop in suspensions.
Her progressive style has drawn the attention of numerous services providers and community partners who have signed on to support DeJean and work directly with the students.
Greenwood said she’s always looking for new programs that bring mentors into the district and help students develop meaningful relationships with successful adults.
She is looking forward to working with For Richmond, a new, Richmond-based community-service organization to implement additional programming at DeJean.
On Saturday, May 17, For Richmond will organize the Chabot Space & Science Center’s Chabot-to-go event in the school auditorium, featuring a hands-on traveling science fair with activities for children of all ages.
“We’re so excited about this event because it will get the kids sparked about science and all the possibilities available to them,” she said.

Oakland Post

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Oakland Housing and Community Development Department Awards $80.5 Million to Affordable Housing Developments

Published

8 months ago

June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

Special to The Post

The City of Oakland’s Housing and Community Development Department (Oakland HCD) announced its awardees for the 2024-2025 New Construction of Multifamily Affordable Housing Notice of Funding Availability (New Construction NOFA) today Five permanently affordable housing developments received awards out of 24 applications received by the Department, with award amounts ranging from $7 million to $28 million.

In a statement released on Jan. 16, Oakland’s HCD stated, “Five New Construction Multifamily Affordable Housing Development projects awarded a total of $80.5 million to develop 583 affordable rental homes throughout Oakland. Awardees will leverage the City’s investments to apply for funding from the state and private entities.”

In December, the office of Rebecca Kaplan, interim District 2 City Councilmember, worked with HCD to allocate an additional $10 Million from Measure U to the funding pool. The legislation also readopted various capital improvement projects including street paving and upgrades to public facilities.

The following Oakland affordable housing developments have been awarded in the current round:

Mandela Station Affordable

238 Affordable Units including 60 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $15 million + previously awarded $18 million
Developer: Mandela Station LP (Pacific West Communities, Inc. and Strategic Urban Development Alliance, LLC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 1451 7th St.

Liberation Park Residences

118 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $28 million
Developer: Eden Housing and Black Cultural Zone
City Council District: 6
Address: 7101 Foothill Blvd.

34th & San Pablo

59 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $7 million
Developer: 34SP Development LP (EBALDC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 3419-3431 San Pablo Ave.

The Eliza

96 Affordable Units including 20 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $20 million
Developer: Mercy Housing California
City Council District: 3
Address: 2125 Telegraph Ave.

3135 San Pablo

72 Affordable Units including 36 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $10.5 million
Developer: SAHA and St. Mary’s Center
City Council District: 3
Address: 3515 San Pablo Ave.

The source of this story is the media reltations office of District 2 City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan.

Oakland Post

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Activism

Oakland Housing and Community Development Department Awards $80.5 Million to Affordable Housing Developments

Published

12 months ago

January 30, 2025

Oakland Post

Rebecca Kaplan, interim District 2 city councilmember. File photo.

Special to The Post

The following Oakland affordable housing developments have been awarded in the current round:

Mandela Station Affordable

238 Affordable Units including 60 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $15 million + previously awarded $18 million
Developer: Mandela Station LP (Pacific West Communities, Inc. and Strategic Urban Development Alliance, LLC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 1451 7th St.

Liberation Park Residences

118 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $28 million
Developer: Eden Housing and Black Cultural Zone
City Council District: 6
Address: 7101 Foothill Blvd.

34th & San Pablo

59 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $7 million
Developer: 34SP Development LP (EBALDC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 3419-3431 San Pablo Ave.

The Eliza

96 Affordable Units, including 20 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $20 million
Developer: Mercy Housing California
City Council District: 3
Address: 2125 Telegraph Ave.

3135 San Pablo

72 Affordable Units including 36 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $10.5 million
Developer: SAHA and St. Mary’s Center
City Council District: 3
Address: 3515 San Pablo Ave.

The source of this story is media reltations office of District 2 City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan.

Oakland Post

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Alameda County

Oakland Acquisition Company’s Acquisition of County’s Interest in Coliseum Property on the Verge of Completion

The Board of Supervisors is committed to closing the deal expeditiously, and County staff have worked tirelessly to move the deal forward on mutually agreeable terms. The parties are down to the final details and, with the cooperation of OAC and Coliseum Way Partners, LLC, the Board will take a public vote at an upcoming meeting to seal this transaction.

Published

1 year ago

January 11, 2025

Oakland Post

Alameda County Board of Supervisors Chairman David Haubert. Official photo.

Special to The Post

The County of Alameda announced this week that a deal allowing the Oakland Acquisition Company, LLC, (“OAC”) to acquire the County’s 50% undivided interest in the Oakland- Alameda County Coliseum complex is in the final stages of completion.

Oakland has already finalized a purchase and sale agreement with OAC for its interest in the property. OAC’s acquisition of the County’s property interest will achieve two longstanding goals of the County:

The Oakland-Alameda Coliseum complex will finally be under the control of a sole owner with capacity to make unilateral decisions regarding the property; and
The County will be out of the sports and entertainment business, free to focus and rededicate resources to its core safety net

In an October 2024 press release from the City of Oakland, the former Oakland mayor described the sale of its 50% interest in the property as an “historic achievement” stating that the transaction will “continue to pay dividends for generations to come.”

The Board of Supervisors is pleased to facilitate single-entity ownership of this property uniquely centered in a corridor of East Oakland that has amazing potential.

“The County is committed to bringing its negotiations with OAC to a close,” said Board President David Haubert.