Barbara Lee

Seven High Schoolers to Join Rep. Barbara Lee In Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to Alabama

Published

5 years ago

February 27, 2020

Seven high school youth leaders from Oakland’s Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center will attend the 2020 Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to Alabama March 6- March 8 with Congresswoman Barbara Lee.
The nearly annual Pilgrimage was started in 1998 by Congressman John Lewis and is a program of the Faith in Politics Institute. The pilgrimage welcomes dozens of bi-cameral, bi-partisan members of Congress, who travel together to Birmingham, Montgomery and Selma, Alabama, visiting pivotal sites in the nation’s Civil Rights history.

The Freedom Center’s seven high school-age delegates will make speeches, present on panels, and orchestrate reflection circles with members of Congress and other attendees throughout the pilgrimage. The Freedom Center delegates’ roles are particularly timely this year as the theme of the 2020 Pilgrimage focuses on youth voices. This year represents the 10th year the Freedom Center has been invited to send youth leaders.

“Freedom Center students and staff are participating in the Pilgrimage fully prepared to listen and learn, and to speak up and connect with others who are prepared to own the common responsibility to confront racism, poverty and violence in ways that create an interracial, pluralistic democracy where love and friendship become our basic strategy for living,” said Dr. Roy D. Wilson, Freedom Center executive director.

Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), who as a regular participant on the Civil Rights Pilgrimages, is the only U.S. member of Congress who consistently takes young people from her district on the pilgrimage. This year’s youth delegates, led by Dr. Karen Bohlke, Freedom Center director of Government and External Relations, include:

Jaylin Brown, San Leandro High School, 9th grade, from San Leandro; Ayanna Boateng, Sacramento Charter High, 12th grade, from Sacramento; Jayda Gray, Oakland Technical High School, 10th grade, from Richmond; Ursa Kaiser, Oakland Technical High School, 10th grade, from Oakland; Ellie Lee, Alameda Science and Technology Institute, 12th grade, from Alameda; Fayth Njenga, Kentwood High School, 12th grade, from Kent, WA; and Jennifer Hernandez, Lincoln High School, 9th grade, from Tacoma, WA.

This year’s delegation includes students from congressional districts of Congressmembers Ami Bera (CA 7th district), Derek Kilmer (WA 6th District), and Adam Smith (WA 9th District). The delegates are representing Freedom Center West Coast initiatives. Bera and Kilmer join Lee and colleagues on the 2020 Pilgrimage.

According to the Faith in Politics Institute, which produces the annual pilgrimages, “Since 1998, Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) has led close to 300 members of the U.S. House and Senate, as well as presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, through Alabama on this pilgrimage. In Montgomery, Birmingham and Selma, the pilgrimages have explored the events that dramatically challenged racial discrimination and turned the course of American democracy. Political leaders have universally described the pilgrimage as a transformative moment.”

The Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage aims to expose members of Congress to epochs shaping national polity, where luminaries, historians and Civil Rights veterans offer an environment for calling forth courage, conscience and compassion. The theme of the pilgrimage uplifts intergenerational reflections on community, respect, personal commitment and nonviolence.

The 2020 Pilgrimage will visit Birmingham’s Civil Rights Institute and 16th Street Baptist Church. In Montgomery, the Pilgrimage will visit the Legacy Museum, National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and the Edmund Pettus Bridge. In Selma, the delegation visits Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church, Southern Poverty Law Center Civil Rights Memorial, Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church and other historical sites.
For more information on the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center visit www.mlkfreedomcenter.org.

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Barbara Lee

WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries Kick Off Season with Community Programs in Oakland

“The Golden State Valkyries are more than a team—they’re a movement,” said Oakland Interim-Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “Their touchdown in Oakland marks a new era of opportunity, inspiration, and equity in sports. This partnership reflects our city’s deep commitment to uplifting women, investing in youth, and building a community where every dream has a place to grow. We’re proud to welcome the Valkyries to The Town.”

Published

1 month ago

May 18, 2025

Oakland Post

The Valkyries came to Oakland City Hall with a “Hoopbus.” Present were (from left to right): City Councilmembers Noel Gallo, Rebecca Kaplan, Zac Unger and Rowena Brown; Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee, Valkyries President Jess Smith, a Valkyries team representative and Deputy Mayor LaNiece Jones. Photo courtesy Rebecca Kaplan’s office.

Team installs new nets at playgrounds, holds flag-raisings at City Halls in Oakland and S.F.

Special to The Post

The Golden State Valkyries brought the excitement of their inaugural season to every corner of the Bay Area with a full slate of community celebrations leading up to their historic home-opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday.

The week featured flag-raising ceremonies at city halls in Oakland and San Francisco, three “Violet Net” installation days at Oakland parks to encourage basketball play, fun “Hoopbus” takeovers at multiple schools presented by Kaiser Permanente, and player appearances.

In total, 90 violet nets were installed on 45 basketball courts across 34 public parks throughout Oakland this week. A list of the parks receiving violet nets can be found at Valkyries.com.

About the Golden State Valkyries

The Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA affiliate of the seven-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, were announced as the 13th WNBA franchise on Oct. 5, 2023. According to Norse mythology, Valkyries are a host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering – flying through air and sea alike.

This brand is Golden State’s modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce. Tipping off during the 2025 WNBA season, the team is headquartered in Oakland and will play home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. For Golden State Valkyries’ assets, including team logos, visit valkyries.com.

Oakland Post

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Activism

New Oakland Moving Forward

This week, several socially enterprising members of this group visited Oakland to explore ways to collaborate with local stakeholders at Youth Empowerment Partnership, the Port of Oakland, Private Industry Council, Oakland, Mayor-elect Barbara Lee, the Oakland Ballers ownership group, and the oversight thought leaders in the Alameda County Probation Department.

Published

1 month ago

May 18, 2025

Oakland Post

iStock.

By Post Staff

Since the African American Sports and Entertainment Group purchased the City of Oakland’s share of the Alameda County Coliseum Complex, we have been documenting the positive outcomes that are starting to occur here in Oakland.

Some of the articles in the past have touched on actor Blair Underwood’s mission to breathe new energy into the social fabric of Oakland. He has joined the past efforts of Steph and Ayesha Curry, Mistah Fab, Green Day, Too Short, and the Oakland Ballers.

This week, several socially enterprising members of this group visited Oakland to explore ways to collaborate with local stakeholders at Youth Empowerment Partnership, the Port of Oakland, Private Industry Council, Oakland, Mayor-Elect Barbara Lee, the Oakland Ballers ownership group, and the oversight thought leaders in the Alameda County Probation Department.

These visits represent a healthy exchange of ideas and plans to resuscitate Oakland’s image. All parties felt that the potential to impact Oakland is right in front of us. Most recently, on the back side of these visits, the Oakland Ballers and Blair Underwood committed to a 10-year lease agreement to support community programs and a community build-out.

So, upward and onward with the movement of New Oakland.

Oakland Post

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Oakland Post Endorses Barbara Lee

Barbara Lee will be able to unify the city around Oakland’s critical budget and financial issues, since she will walk into the mayor’s office with the support of a super majority of seven city council members — enabling her to achieve much-needed consensus on moving Oakland into a successful future.

Published

3 months ago

April 2, 2025

Oakland Post

Congresswoman Barbara Lee. Courtesy photo, Office of Rep. Barbara Lee.

Former Congresswoman Barbara Lee. Courtesy photo.

As we end the celebration of Women’s History Month in Oakland, we endorse Barbara Lee, a woman of demonstrated historical significance. In our opinion, she has the best chance of uniting the city and achieving our needs for affordable housing, public safety, and fiscal accountability.

As a former small business owner, Barbara Lee understands how to apply tools needed to revitalize Oakland’s downtown, uptown, and neighborhood businesses.

It is notable that many of those who fought politically on both sides of the recent recall election battles have now laid down their weapons and become brothers and sisters in support of Barbara Lee. The Oakland Post is pleased to join them.