Letter from the Executive Director – Year End Appeal
As 2016 comes to a close, we are aware of the complicated and bittersweet sentiment that hangs in the air. We saw both glimmers of hope and immense sorrow in our communities this year, and 2017 holds immense uncertainty as well.
This is not the first time we’ve experienced this.
In 1975, the Asian and Pacific Islander communities of Oakland’s Chinatown were coping with the tangible effects of displacement from redevelopment and new freeway construction. The Vietnam War was ending, but the economy was suffering, and unemployment was high. A new president would soon take the helm in 1976. It was during these trying times that a group of dedicated university students and local leaders would soon collaborate to form an organization that would create safe, shared places to bring these communities together. From their hard work and perseverance, EBALDC emerged.
The point of this story is not to downplay or grow apathetic to the current state of affairs, but to remind ourselves that while the political and economic conditions continue to shift, EBALDC is still here and we reaffirm our commitment to the marginalized populations living in Oakland and the East Bay. Holding fast to our values of collaboration, respect, leadership, accountability, and passion as our guide, we will continue to fight for the disenfranchised people in our communities…
By creating and protecting more affordable housing for people who want to stay and live in Oakland, we have developed over 2,200 homes, townhouses, and apartments to date — through not only development and management of affordable housing, but also by acquiring properties in areas where residents are at risk of displacement, and keeping rents at those properties low.
By coaching people on their finances. Jane came to EBALDC as a homeless woman, with a plummeting credit score, and tremendous debt. In working with us, she now has a credit score of 700, and is on the wait list for stable housing in one of our buildings for the first time in innumerable years.
By committing to our youth programs, including our after school programs in the Havenscourt neighborhood of East Oakland, where we work together with parents, guardians and nearby schools to work towards aligned educational outcomes for our children. We also walk them home from school to ensure their safety every day.
By helping people file their taxes. We secured a whopping $2.6 million in refunds this past year, and the average refund ranged from 8% – 15% of one’s annual income.
By facilitating commercial space to neighborhood-appropriate nonprofits and businesses, like our friends at API Legal Outreach, California Humanities, Miss Ollie’s, and Planting Justice, just to name a few.
Our staff, our volunteers, and our partners have been working enormously hard to make all of this (and much more) happen, but we cannot do this alone. Today, you have a chance to pledge your support for our work. Whether you can give $25 or $2,500, you are a part of the solution.
I am humbled, and hopeful because of supporters like you. You, along with our staff, our volunteers, and partners are rewriting the script – to be one of equity and inclusion for all. Thank you so, so much.
In peace,
Joshua Simon
Executive Director