ST EOBHCSunset 072321 - Flipbook - Page 15
Building resident power
and voice in East Oakland
The beginning of BHC generated
unprecedented excitement. It brought
residents and CBOs together to put
forward a healthy vision for a historic
Black, East Oakland in ways that were
positive and affirming: that they matter,
their beloved community matters, their
futures matter.
Yet the ascending presence and voice
of residents is not something that is
comfortable to all who were at the table.
For those CBO leaders who are not used
to sharing decision making or having to
defer to resident voice, it was perhaps felt as having to “give up” power. This dynamic resulted in a
push-pull, often rocky, beginning.
“We came to give our input, meeting monthly with [TCE] grantees that were
members of the Steering Committee. We started to figure out how we
wanted to move and what they wanted to do. It was up and down. Some
folks didn’t want residents there, and that was a hiccup for me. So, we
formed a resident engagement committee to continue to do the work. We
came up with a list of things for residents and the rest of the community. We
helped put together the initial things that we wanted EOBHC to do, but that
didn’t work out too well.”
—Ms. Sherry, long-time EOBHC
and Resident Leader
Successful resident engagement
included the building of expanded
social networks among East
Oakland residents who spoke
different languages, resulting
in multi-ethnic connections
that increased trust, sense of
community, and safety, while
dispelling misconceptions
between ethnic groups.
FOR THE LOVE OF BLACK EAST OAKLAND: EOBHC Sunset Report
9