EBALDC’s 48th Gala, Honoree & Sponsor Spotlight 2

Meet Dr. Russell Jeung, Our Second Honoree for
EBALDC’s 48th Anniversary Gala

We are eager for you to learn a little bit about our EBALDC’s Healthy Neighborhoods Pillar Award Honoree Dr. Russell Jeung!

Professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University, Dr. Russell Jeung is an author of books and articles on race and religion. He’s written Family Sacrifices: The Worldviews and Ethics of Chinese Americans (2019); Mountain Movers: Student Activism and the Emergence of Asian American Studies (2019); and At Home in Exile: Finding Jesus Among My Ancestors and Refugee Neighbors (2016).

In March 2020, Dr. Jeung co-founded Stop AAPI Hate, a coalition awarded the 2021 Webby Award for “Social Movement of the Year.”   Dr. Jeung was named one of the TIME 100 Most Influential Persons in 2021 and received the Game Changer Award from the Asia Society in 2022.

For EBALDC’s 45 Stories for 45 Years, Dr. Jeung contributed a story about his experience in organizing his fellow neighbors at Oak Park Apartments, which is now an EBALDC property.

Meet Dr. Jeung in person! Join us at our 48th Anniversary Gala Celebration on Thursday, September 7th at The Atrium at Uptown Station!

San Pablo Hotel Anchor
Sponsor Spotlight: 

Groundbreaking at West Grand & Brush, November 2, 2023 l-r: Matt Almonte (EBALDC), James Perez (EBALDC), Gary Hill-Thomas (EBALDC), James Vossoughi (JPMorgan Chase)

EBALDC’s 48th Anniversary Gala, to be held on Thursday, September 7th at The Atrium at Uptown Station, is an opportunity for our many friends and community partners to come together and network, while supporting EBALDC in our shared visions of an East Bay where everyone has a place to call home and the resources to thrive. Continuing our spotlight on some of our Gala sponsors, we are pleased to feature JPMorgan Chase, who has come in as a San Pablo Hotel Anchor Sponsor this year.

Committed to supporting EBALDC for a decade—including key contributions that have ranged from supporting a modular construction study, funding EBALDC’s COVID Commercial Tenant Resiliency Program that provides technical assistance and access to emergency capital for EBALDC’s commercial tenants at buildings like Swan’s Market in Old Oakland, JPMorgan Chase has been a steadfast contributor to EBALDC’s community development work, and providing capacity support for EBALDC staff to better serve residents who need more acute care.

Vicki Shu, EBALDC’s VP of Resource Development & Communications, states “In 2020, we recognized JPMorgan Chase’s commitment not just to EBALDC, but to Oakland, with our Healthy Neighborhoods Champion Award at our 45th Anniversary Gala. They are more than a funder to us; their thought-partnership is especially valuable and for which we truly appreciate.” 

Below is a Q & A with Tony Tolentino, VP of Global Philanthropy for JPMorgan Chase:

What brought you into the EBALDC Family? 
JPMorgan Chase is proud of their decade-long partnership with the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC). We were drawn to EBALDC’s mission of building healthy and vibrant neighborhoods through community development. Not only is EBALDC mission-driven, but we were impressed with EBALDC’s long track record of community impact and their deep community relations.

What about EBALDC’s work most excites you? 
Our company believes in supporting neighborhoods where diverse communities across income levels can thrive. This includes equitable access to affordable housing and homeownership. Affordable housing is something important to our communities, to EBALDC, and to JPMorgan Chase. EBALDC has not only been advocating for affordable housing but connecting the East Bay to vital social and financial services. For the past 48 years, EBALDC has been a key partner in supporting East Bay communities and we are excited to help their mission move forward in the years to come.

How does your company’s vision align with EBALDC’s vision of an “East Bay where everyone has a place to call home and the resources to thrive”? 
Economic opportunity is deeply rooted in neighborhood conditions. Even with broad economic growth, many neighborhoods continue to struggle with concentrated poverty, disinvestment, unemployment, and other challenges. We are helping drive inclusive growth by committing $30 billion in our Racial Equity Commitment, which focuses on expanding affordable housing, increasing homeownership, growing small businesses, improving financial health, and accelerating workforce diversity. By partnering with organizations like EBALDC who share a similar mission, together we can drive a wide range of innovative initiatives that advance the well-being and growth in our communities.

How does EBALDC’s work relate to your work and the transformation you’d like to see in the world?
JPMorgan Chase and EBALDC both believe every neighborhood should have equitable opportunities that enable its community to live long, healthy lives, regardless of income or ethnic background. Economic opportunity is deeply rooted in neighborhood conditions. Even with broad economic growth, many neighborhoods continue to struggle with concentrated poverty, disinvestment, unemployment, and other challenges. By prioritizing our communities, like in the East Bay, and establishing key partnerships, like with EBALDC, we are aiming to reduce the housing affordability gap and help families begin building their own generational wealth.

Click here to learn more about JPMorgan Chase & Co.