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Sharon Kidd Honored by National Law Enforcement Group for Justice, Equity Work

Kidd is a commissioner of the Personnel Board for the City of Berkeley and vice chairperson of the BART Citizen Review Board. Kidd is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and has also served for more than five years as vice chair of Berkeley’s Police Review Commission and on the Board of the West Contra Costa chapter of Girl’s Inc. in Richmond for seven years.

Published

1 year ago

August 25, 2025

Carla Thomas

Sharon Kidd was presented the NOBLE National "Detective Rafaela A. Valdez," 2025 Outstanding NOBLE Associate Member of the Year Award in Hollywood, Florida. Photo courtesy Sharon Kidd.

By Carla Thomas

On Tuesday, August 12, Sharon Kidd was presented the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) national 2025 Outstanding Associate Member of the Year Award in Hollywood, Florida.

NOBLE, consists of community leaders united to promote justice, equity, and excellence in the administration of justice.

Kidd was recognized for her commitment and work in NOBLE and the community affiliations. Kidd was chosen for her fortitude and dedication to NOBLE’s mission statement and the legacy of Detective Rafaela A. Valdez.

Kidd thanked her family members for their continued support, her Oakland Police Department (OPD) mentor-brother, retired Lieutenant James Meeks and retired Detective Mike Gantt.

“They were very inspirational, and my reason for continuing to work in law enforcement,” said Kidd, the chief development officer of Ripple Effect 22 in San Francisco where she supports funding efforts and compliance standards.

Kidd also thanked her Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) family, Lifelong Medical Care family, and childhood friends who often give her encouraging words. “My supporters have always encouraged me to never give up fighting for our communities,” said Kidd. “With so much support, I spend a lot of time fighting for the rights of seniors, youth, and anyone who needs help.”

Kidd has received numerous local and national awards recognizing her work in support of underserved populations, justice system reform, and community development. Whether working with law enforcement, parolees, young adults, or seniors, Kidd always brings the same level of commitment, compassion, and excellence. “This is one of my biggest national awards and I couldn’t be more excited.”

Carla Thomas

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Oakland Post: Week of September 9 – 15, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 9 – 15, 2026

Published

6 days ago

September 14, 2026

Oakland Post

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Oakland Post: Week of September 2 – 8, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 2 – 8, 2026

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2 weeks 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

3 weeks 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.