Meet Cathy Eberhardt, Resident Leader

My name is Cathy Eberhardt. I live in Noble Tower, right off beautiful Lake Merritt in downtown Oakland. In my local community, I’m a member of the Chinatown Resident Leadership Council (RLC), one of three Councils that EBALDC sponsors. I also serve on the Mayor’s Commission on Persons with Disabilities.

But my life has not always been this fulfilling.

I used to be a manager and executive assistant; I had my real estate license in the business world. Out of nowhere, a permanent and disabling condition left me homeless. I lost my jobs and income, and ended up living shelter to shelter and in transitional housing. Through EBALDC’s financial coaching program, SparkPoint Oakland, after 18 difficult months, I was able to find a home in Noble Tower, EBALDC’s senior residence.

(l-r) Caitlyn He (EBALDC Resident Services Coordinator), Cathy Eberhardt

It was my EBALDC Resident Services Coordinator, Kin, who reconnected me to the community. She saw something in me; later, Senior Community Organizer David Cota, brought out my qualities and buoyed my rise to resident leader. They encouraged me to get involved and got me into leadership classes and programs.

While participating in initiatives around housing, homelessness, and renters’ rights has been very rewarding, being a part of the Chinatown RLC is truly special. Earlier this year, we organized a social-justice-themed art project that helped solidify the Chinatown RLC’s commitment to Asian-Black unity; all of our artwork was displayed in the lobby of the historic Asian Resource Center. We just finished our year-end project – getting our Chinatown neighbors together, finally after three years, to have fun, eat food, and play games. It was simple but nice – nice to be out, seeing people, saying hi, talking to people. It was something we, the Chinatown RLC, did because we are a diverse and thriving EBALDC community, and we care about our fellow residents.