EBALDC Honors Oakland Leaders Working to Ensure that All People Lead Healthy, Vibrant Lives
OAKLAND, CA — The East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) will host its Annual Gala on September 13 to celebrate nearly 45 years of building equitable, healthy neighborhoods. The anniversary event also will recognize the achievements of EBALDC’s gala honorees whose work strengthens Oakland’s community fabric so all residents can belong and thrive.
“Our work would be impossible without the vision and perseverance of these leaders,” said Joshua Simon, executive director of EBALDC. “Thoughtful partnerships that lift up and leverage the diverse expertise of individuals and organizations are critical to building an Oakland that benefits everyone. Thank you to our honorees; we are grateful for the opportunity to celebrate your important work.”
The gala will feature a program celebrating organizations and individuals that provide invaluable leadership and services to EBALDC’s communities. Honorees include:
Community Foods Market is committed to this belief: food brings people together, builds community and strengthens families. As an independent and locally owned grocer, Community Foods Market strives to be a neighborhood anchor. By making it easier for local West Oakland residents to shop for fresh affordable food, eat healthier and have enjoyable experiences, they are providing an opportunity to live better. Their roots began 17 years ago when the CEO, Brahm Ahmadi, co-founded an organization called People’s Grocery that addressed the local need for fresh affordable foods and nutritional education. Community Foods Market continues to build on these long-standing roots and relationships in West Oakland Neighborhoods to form a vision and plan for bringing the first full-service food market to the McClymonds, Hoover-Foster and Clawson neighborhoods of West Oakland since the 1970’s. Their vision is to become an empowering, inspiring and transformative place to work for employees and to enable them to feel a sense of purpose in their work.
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. They are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities they serve. They currently serve 12.3 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia, including 4.4 million people in Northern California. By addressing key social needs, Kaiser Permanente improves the health and well-being of our members as well as the 68 million people who live in the communities they serve. Kaiser Permanente believes that safe, stable housing is essential to health. They are leading efforts to end homelessness and preserve affordable housing by making impact investments, shaping policy and catalyzing innovation through partnerships.
Da’Layjah Washington started volunteering for the Family Resource Center at Lion Creek Crossings and summer camp before she was old enough to sign up as a program teen participant, logging more than 100 hours of volunteer time as a classroom assistant, mentor, youth leader. Since then, Da’Layjah has continued to lead and advocate for her fellow residents and community. To create a place for teens to come together to share ideas and experiences, and to read stories about Black and brown youth, Da’Layjah created the Lion Creek Crossing Book Club. To ensure continued financial support for the Oakland Fund for Children and Youth, which supports Lion Creek, Da’Layjah testified before the Oakland City Council’s Life Enrichment Committee, emphasizing the importance of programs for youth in not only Lion Creek, but all of Oakland. EBALDC is proud to award Da’Layjah the Lynette Jung Lee Resident Leadership Award.
EBALDC is known for developing and preserving affordable homes for community residents while providing below-market and stable rents in commercial spaces for local nonprofits and businesses. By connecting affordable housing and economic opportunity to a wider network of neighborhood supports and services, EBALDC works to ensure residents have what they need to be able to lead full, thriving lives.
Taking place at the historic Claremont Hotel, the 44th Annual Gala will feature a reception, program, and dinner.
WHAT: EBALDC 44th Annual Gala Celebration
WHEN: Friday, September 13, 2019
Champagne Reception at 6:00 PM
Program and Dinner at 7:00 PM
WHERE: Claremont Hotel Resort & Spa – 41 Tunnel Road, Berkeley
About East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation:
East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation is a nonprofit community development organization celebrating 45 years of building healthy, vibrant and safe neighborhoods in Oakland and the greater East Bay. East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation develops and manages high quality affordable apartments and homes, and retail spaces for local small businesses and community centers, while fostering increased economic opportunities for low-income families and individuals. Since 1975, the organization has invested more than $200 million in assets that have had substantial physical and social impact in the community. Its Neighborhood and Economic Development programs serve over 4,000 low-income people annually, through resident services at our buildings, financial education and counseling, youth and senior programming, and free tax preparation and assistance. For more information, visit www.ebaldc.org. On Twitter @EBALDC