Bay Area

Sondra Alexander Retires From OCCUR After 40 Years of Dedicated Service

Published

4 years ago

December 19, 2019

Last week, Sondra Alexander quietly ended her 40 years of service at the Oakland Citizens Committee for Urban Renewal (OCCUR), the advocacy group that formed in the 1950s to close the gaps between rich and poor neighborhoods.

Alexander began her career at OCCUR in the late 1970s as assistant to Paul Cobb, now the Post News Group publisher, who led the program for her retirement party on Dec. 5.

Held at the David E. Glover Education and Technology Center in East Oakland, a project of OOCUR’s that she helped spearhead with its namesake, David Glover, who died in 2013, Alexander was praised and remembered by current and former OCCUR employees alike, bringing smiles and a few tears.

Glover’s sister, Angela Blackwell, founder of Policy Link, was present with her son, Fred Blackwell, who recalled coming to OCCUR offices as a child and simply feeling welcomed by Alexander. “That’s a big deal for a 9-year-old,” said Blackwell, who is now CEO of the San Francisco Foundation.

Olivia Cueva, the David Glover Center’s executive director, praised Alexander for her compassionate guidance and leadership, while OCCUR executive assistant Charla Montgomery regaled the attendees on her first few weeks at the job when she learned the value of multi-tasking, self reliance and pinching pennies for the greater good.

Also present were some of Alexanders’ sisters Ida, Nuna Mae, Donna, Crystal and Ennis along with many relatives and friends. Known for her strong faith-based and family ties, Alexander pledged to continue her support and involvement to keep the organization strong.

Over the years, Alexander served as director of administration and executive director. She will be replaced by Shomari Carter, a former staff assistant to Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson.

If you ask Alexander to list her OCCUR related accomplishments, her answer would be “That’s difficult to say, because OCCUR’s successes are the result of a team effort.”

While it’s true that it takes an effective and cohesive team to fully achieve success, but there is always that one person that welcomes the challenge, assumes the responsibility, pulls the team together, manages the effort and does whatever it takes to ensure success. For the last 40 years, that person has been Alexander.

Alexander successfully implemented and administered over 50 programs and services designed to address the challenges faced by low-income individuals, small business owners, faith-based institutions and nonprofit organizations.

Throughout Sondra’s extensive career, she remained firmly rooted and driven in achieving the overall goal of raising the quality of life for all of Oakland/East Bay residents, but particularly for those in the greatest need.

Alexander was instrumental in developing and executing OCCUR’s place-based digital training project initiative — The Eastmont Technology Center, which was renamed for David Glover at her behest

As a result of her leadership efforts, DEGETC has gained increased notoriety throughout the San Francisco Bay Area as cutting age training program providing thousands of low-income adults, youth and seniors with the skills needed to participate in the technology-driven economy.

Alexander’s mastery of program development and administration, has helped to initiate and implement highly impactful programs such as, the Area Mapping and Neighborhood Profiles project for Oakland’s 7 districts, the Consumer Education/Cost Minimization program, Oakland Housing/Foreclosure Prevention program, Oakland Facade Improvement project and the Heartland Revitalization program.

She said she would marshal the efforts of her childhood friends Dr. Arnold Perkins and Paul Cobb to continue to support OCCUR’s fundraising programs..

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

4 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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Bay Area

State Controller Malia Cohen Keynote Speaker at S.F. Wealth Conference

California State Controller Malia Cohen delivered the keynote speech to over 50 business women at the Black Wealth Brunch held on March 28 at the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center at 301 Van Ness Ave. in San Francisco. The Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) hosted the Green Room event to launch its platform designed to close the racial wealth gap in Black and Brown communities.

Published

6 days ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

American Business Women’s Association Vice President Velma Landers, left, with California State Controller Malia Cohen (center), and ABWA President LaRonda Smith at the Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the ABWA at the Black Wealth Brunch.

By Carla Thomas

The Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) hosted the Green Room event to launch its platform designed to close the racial wealth gap in Black and Brown communities.

“Our goal is to educate Black and Brown families in the masses about financial wellness, wealth building, and how to protect and preserve wealth,” said ABWA San Francisco Chapter President LaRonda Smith.

ABWA’s mission is to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support, and national recognition.

“This day is about recognizing influential women, hearing from an accomplished woman as our keynote speaker and allowing women to come together as powerful people,” said ABWA SF Chapter Vice President Velma Landers.

More than 60 attendees dined on the culinary delights of Chef Sharon Lee of The Spot catering, which included a full soul food brunch of skewered shrimp, chicken, blackened salmon, and mac and cheese.

Cohen discussed the many economic disparities women and people of color face. From pay equity to financial literacy, Cohen shared not only statistics, but was excited about a new solution in motion which entailed partnering with Californians for Financial Education.

“I want everyone to reach their full potential,” she said. “Just a few weeks ago in Sacramento, I partnered with an organization, Californians for Financial Education.

“We gathered 990 signatures and submitted it to the [California] Secretary of State to get an initiative on the ballot that guarantees personal finance courses for every public school kid in the state of California.

“Every California student deserves an equal opportunity to learn about filing taxes, interest rates, budgets, and understanding the impact of credit scores. The way we begin to do that is to teach it,” Cohen said.

By equipping students with information, Cohen hopes to close the financial wealth gap, and give everyone an opportunity to reach their full financial potential. “They have to first be equipped with the information and education is the key. Then all we need are opportunities to step into spaces and places of power.”

Cohen went on to share that in her own upbringing, she was not guided on financial principles that could jump start her finances. “Communities of color don’t have the same information and I don’t know about you, but I did not grow up listening to my parents discussing their assets, their investments, and diversifying their portfolio. This is the kind of nomenclature and language we are trying to introduce to our future generations so we can pivot from a life of poverty so we can pivot away and never return to poverty.”

Cohen urged audience members to pass the initiative on the November 2024 ballot.

“When we come together as women, uplift women, and support women, we all win. By networking and learning together, we can continue to build generational wealth,” said Landers. “Passing a powerful initiative will ensure the next generation of California students will be empowered to make more informed financial decisions, decisions that will last them a lifetime.”