Activism

Women’s Council of Associated Real Property Brokers’

This year commemorates the landmark enactment of the Fair Housing Act 54 years ago on April 11, 1968. WC of ARPB is the local chapter of the Women’s Council of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) and an affiliate of the Associated Real Property Brokers, the local chapter of NAREB, which is the country’s oldest, minority real estate trade association.

Published

4 years ago

April 19, 2022

Oakland Post

Attending the Prayer Breakfast on April 2, 2022, were: Back row: Cathy Adams, president of OAACC, Ria Cotton-Landry, immediate past president of Women’s Council of Associated Real Property Brokers, Tammy Willis, president of Women’s Council of Associated Real Property Brokers, Shonda Scott, CEO of 360 Total Concept, Councilmember Treva Reid, City of Oakland District 7. Front row: Imani Breaux-Smith, president of Associated Real Property Brokers, Councilmember Caroll Fife, City of Oakland District 3, Ray Carlisle Sr., CEO of NID Housing Counseling and Pastor Maria Reems, Center of Hope Community Church.

Host 100 at Prayer Breakfast to Kick-Off Realtist Week

The Women’s Council of Associated Real Property Brokers (WC of ARPB) held its Annual Prayer Breakfast to kick off Realtist Week, April 3-9, 2022, in observance of the trade association’s dedication to increasing Black wealth through homeownership.

Realtist Week activities in Oakland, CA, are grounded in NAREB’s intent to increase the economic futures of Black Americans, by building black wealth through homeownership. The week-long series of events is designed to reach Oakland’s Black residents where they live, work, and socialize.

In addition, Realtists expect to meet with policymakers and elected officials to ensure that affordable and sustainable homeownership is supported legislatively, through regulatory or other city planning means.

Homeownership for Black Americans has been on a steady decline since 2004 when it reached its peak of nearly 50%. As of the fourth quarter ending 2021 as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau, the Black homeownership rate hovered nationally at 44.6% compared to the non-Hispanic white homeownership rate of just above 74.2%.

“Realtist Week events and activities raise awareness that Black homeownership not only strengthens the economic fabric of our city, but also increases the desirability of Oakland’s many neighborhoods,” said Cathy Adams, president of Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce (OAACC).

It is appropriate that NAREB’s Realtist Week takes place during National Fair Housing Month which commemorates the passage of the Fair Housing Act of 1968, the federal legislation making it illegal to discriminate in housing based upon race, color, sex, national origin, religion, familial status, or disability.

WC of ARPB and ARPB scheduled a series of activities to heighten the community’s and policymakers’ awareness about the importance of affordable homeownership as the best and most effective wealth-building tool. Events and activities included were:

Annual Prayer Breakfast -Realtist Week Kickoff 4/2
Realtist Fitness Bootcamp Mon 4/4 9 at Tip Top Shape 472 9th Street Oakland
Virtual City of Oakland Mayoral Candidate Town Hall Tuesday 4/5
Brunch & Learn to discuss how Cryptocurrency and Blockchain affect the Real Estate Industry
TownCONNECT Homeowner & Homebuyer Expo Sat 4/9 at the Black Cultural Zone, 7101 Foothill Blvd Oakland FREE Event, Complimentary lunch, Live DJ, Kids Activities, Raffles & More

Formed in 1947, NAREB’s founding motto of Democracy in Housing continues to serve as its purpose and focus. NAREB’s 2 Million New Black Homeowners (2Mn5) program was initiated to reverse the wealth drain among Black Americans.

While the country continues to experience economic recovery that same recovery has bypassed most Black Americans. NAREB’s approach to increasing Black Wealth incorporates financial education, homeownership preparation and counseling, outreach to the faith-based community along with expanding Black consumers’ knowledge base about the importance of advocating for public policies that support and increase affordable and sustainable homeownership.

WC of ARPB and ARPB joins NAREB chapters nationwide participating in Realtist Week. For more detailed information about the association and Realtist Week, contact Tammy Willis, president of Women’s Council of ARPB, 510-460-0248 and twillisbroker@gmail.com

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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 hours 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

Published

7 days ago

September 7, 2026

Oakland Post

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Activism

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

2 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.