May 08, 2013
For the last several weeks, OCO organizer Emma Paulino has been traveling every other week down to Bakersfield to help build the capacity of PICO's Campaign for Citizenship in the Central Valley. In this post, she shares her experience so far.
May 02, 2013
On Tuesday, April 30, leaders from across Oakland held a community education forum at Castlemont High School to call attention to Gov. Jerry Brown's bold new education initiative, the Local Control Funding Formula. The Local Control Funding Formula, which is currently being debated in the state Legislature, would bring much-needed resources to schools in Oakland and other urban cities across the state that are struggling with overcrowded classes and high dropout rates after years of budget cuts and funding inequalities.
April 19, 2013
OCO and the Revive Oakland! Coalition held a rally April 16 to encourage the city and the Port of Oakland to complete the good jobs pipeline promised at the former Oakland Army Base that will move local residents into good jobs.
April 01, 2013
After reading the story in the Oakland Tribune about the three homicides that occurred within 12 hours on Easter Sunday, OCO felt the need to respond as a key partner in the Oakland Lifelines to Healing/Ceasefire Campaign.
March 29, 2013
More than 300 people from Oakland Community Organizations, labor unions and social service agencies packed St. Elizabeth High School to ask the congresswoman to be a voice for the 11 million aspiring citizens living in the U.S.
On Saturday, March 23, we held another DACA/Citizenship workshop, and 348 people gathered at St. Anthony's School to receive a variety of services geared toward empowering immigrants and aspiring citizens.
March 21, 2013
A Public Religion Research Institute poll reveals support for keeping families together.
March 20, 2013
An OCO leader shares her story about why a pathway to citizenship is necessary for the 11 million aspiring Americans living in the United States. Her family's journey has been filled with pain and sacrifice, but she is letting her voice be heard so that immigrants' stories like hers can finally emerge from the shadows.
On March 20, the National Council on Teacher Quality released "Teacher Quality Roadmap: Improving Policies and Practices in Oakland," an in-depth study that examines teacher quality policies and practices in the Oakland Unified School District. OCO Executive Director Amy Fitzgerald, who was part of the coalition that commissioned the study, said the study is an important addition to the Oakland schools conversation because it outlines some of the ways in which the community can support our teachers.
March 12, 2013
OCO was well-represented at the "Teaching Matters, Part I" forum, which brought community partners together to discuss how best to support teachers in Oakland public schools.
March 01, 2013
OCO convened a meeting this week to spark a conversation about an issue between the black and Latino communities of Oakland that is well known but rarely discussed: Why is it so hard to get blacks and Latinos to work together? Our leaders worked through solutions that will help us build a more united community.
February 11, 2013
The leaders were among 200 leaders from PICO and United We Dream who gathered for a training on PICO's Campaign for Citizenship. The training equipped the leaders with more tools so that they could take back to their communities more power to train more leaders and build up power on the path to seeking citizenship legislation for the country's 11 million aspiring Americans.
January 29, 2013
After President Obama laid out his plan to change the country's broken immigration laws in a historic speech, OCO leaders react with joy and say that they believe the day is near when citizenship becomes a reality for all aspiring Americans.
January 22, 2013
From Jan. 19-20, OCO member congregations Imani Community Church and True Vine Ministries participated in the Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath, a national initiative launched to raise awareness about the crisis of gun violence throughout the country.
January 14, 2013
In this interview, Rev. Curtis Flemming, pastor of Bay Community Fellowship, shares his thoughts on his experience at the PICO National Training near Atlanta.
In this interview, OCO leader Rev. Phillip Lewis, senior pastor of Israelite Baptist Church, shares his thoughts about what he took away from the PICO National Training near Atlanta.
January 11, 2013
In this interview, OCO leader Rev. Curtis Robinson (pastor of Faith Baptist Church) talks about his experience at the PICO National Training near Atlanta.
January 09, 2013
In this interview, OCO leader Rev. Marty Peters talks about his experience at the PICO National Training near Atlanta.
January 08, 2013
Four clergy leaders from OCO are in Georgia this week for PICO's National Training, joining more than 100 leaders, clergy, staff and allies from across the country who will be learning PICO's principles and how to be better leaders back at home.
December 21, 2012
Rev. Phillip Lewis, pastor of Israelite Missionary Baptist Church, is one of the many regular participants in the Ceasefire/Lifelines night walks. His reason for jumping on board with this project was simple, he says: "I'm really tired of burying young African-American males."
December 13, 2012
Several OCO organizers and leaders took part in the PICO Faith & Families Summit this week in Washington, D.C., where they joined PICO leaders from across the country on Capitol Hill to ask members of Congress to "stand with families" by ending tax breaks for the richest 2%, protecting Medicaid and Medicare and supporting immigration reform with a roadmap to citizenship. Organizer Emma Paulina gives her thoughts on the trip.
December 07, 2012
OCO community organizer Damita Davis-Howard shares her story about her involvement in the night walks, a weekly part of the Lifelines to Healing/Ceasefire program in Oakland in which clergy leaders go out to the neighborhoods most affected by gun violence and talk with the people responsible for the violence and those affected by it as well.
December 06, 2012
After organizing for 40 years both locally and throughout the PICO National Network, OCO Executive Director Ron Snyder has announced his decision to step out of his position by the end of this year. The OCO board initiated a search for a new director, and a new leader has been selected.
December 02, 2012
Because of our 350 volunteers working across 87 precincts in Oakland, we turned out nearly 10,000 voters to the polls on Election Day. That means one out of every 14 voters in Oakland participated in the election to support Prop. 30 and Measure J because of the work that OCO did.
November 09, 2012
Most of the elders had escaped Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge, only to find themselves stuck in refugee camps for years waiting to be allowed into the U.S. or Europe. Because of a lack of outreach, voter education opportunities and, most importantly, because of language barriers, these elders—who have been American citizens for 10 to 20 years—have been totally isolated from the voting process the entire time they have been in this country. Until this election.
November 05, 2012
In order to get Proposition 30 passed, OCO has been doing phone banking, canvassing neighborhoods and registering voters, and people have been very receptive. One of the reasons why is because families have been involving their children in the work. Francisca Anaya, who has been participating with her grandchildren, knows all about that.
Everly Salazar has been a superstar with getting out the vote, finding supporters for Prop. 30 in her community and in her own family. This is the kind of activism that she hopes can be passed down to her children one day—one of the reasons she has been involved with OCO's civic engagement campaign this year.
November 01, 2012
As a history teacher in Oakland for 12 years, Edgar Sanchez knows all about social movements and how they've shaped our country's growth. He sees the same type of movement taking place with the civic engagement work that OCO has been involved with.
October 30, 2012
The 18-year-old student at Dewey Academy is looking to finish high school so that she can attend college. But tuition hikes could unfortunately stifle that dream for her. She also wants to see schools in her community thrive. But she knows that if there are any more school cuts in Oakland, more kids will be in the streets instead of in the classroom. That is why she decided to get involved with OCO's civic engagement campaign this election.
October 25, 2012
OCO community organizer Emma Paulino works with a number of leaders on a daily basis to get people educated and energized about the Prop. 30 campaign because she knows that so much is at stake for Oakland's school and health systems. But sometimes it's difficult to tell if the message is really getting through. Fortunately, Emma recently had an experience that reassured her that the work that OCO has been doing is not in vain.
October 23, 2012
A high school dropout and a young black man, Claude Feaster IV most likely would seem like someone who wouldn't be engaged in this election. But that assumption would be wrong. Claude has been phone banking with OCO and getting others involved in the Prop. 30 campaign because he realizes that with so much at stake, it's important to get people to care.
October 22, 2012
A group of OCO leaders from Manzanita SEED canvassed the Fruitvale neighborhood this past weekend and had a productive experience—not just because they found so many supporters for Prop. 30, but also because it was familiar territory for many of them. In the end, knowing the neighborhood and finding ways to connect with people made the group's efforts worthwhile.
October 19, 2012
The first time Andrea Minaberry voted was in 2000, but it didn't mean much to her back then because she didn't feel like her vote counted for herself. This time, with Prop. 30 on the ballot and her daughter's future at stake, Andrea knows that her vote will not only count for herself but also for her daughter and all of Oakland's kids.
October 18, 2012
Several of our affiliate churches have pledged to register 100 percent of their congregations to vote. Imani Community Church has already done so. How did they do it?
October 17, 2012
Many are still unaware of the fact that a number of people who are on probation have the right to vote. OCO community organizer Katy Nunez-Adler talks about her recent experience with registering ex-offenders to vote.
One normally wouldn't think of jail as the first place to find voters. But that's exactly where OCO community organizer Brandon Sturdivant and a small team of leaders have been going to find first-time or infrequent voters.
October 16, 2012
If Prop. 30 doesn't pass, says OCO democracy fellow Samantha Lehman, teachers are going to have to make challenging decisions that would make it nearly impossible to provide a quality education to all children, especially those who need help the most.
October 15, 2012
An OCO leader from Masjid Tasbeen Center says you wouldn't arm soldiers with guns and no bullets. So why would people expect children to have a good education when cuts would take away their essential needs?
October 12, 2012
OCO leaders are gearing up to walk the neighborhoods most impacted by gun violence. According to OCO community organizer Damita Howard, the night walks are a way for the community to show people through love that Oakland is concerned and fed up with all the violence.
Denise Gums, an OCO leader from St. Patrick's Church, got an amazing number people to say they'll support Prop. 30 at the polls. A good lesson in how keeping it real can go a long way.
October 11, 2012
OCO executive director Ron Snyder recently visited a class at Dewey and met a young man who, throughout the entire class time, was indifferent and not wanting to participate. Then Ron asked the young man a question that changed his perspective.
Sometimes you never know what's going to happen with phone banking. On a recent night of phone banking, OCO leader Andrew Peters was able to persuade a woman to give her support for Prop. 30 even though she was hesitant to hear him out at first. How did he do it?
October 10, 2012
About a week ago, OCO community organizer Karla Perez-Cordero ran into a woman who, after getting mugged, still decided to participate in phone banking. Experiences like that remind Karla to keep pushing for people to get involved in the Yes on Prop. 30 campaign.
October 09, 2012
Rev. Ken Chambers, an OCO community organizer, knows what will happen if Prop. 30 doesn't pass. His kids went to McClymonds and now his three grandchildren are in public schools throughout the state, so he is personally invested in the Yes on Prop. 30 campaign.
August 08, 2012
More than 480 people packed the basement of St. Jarlath’s Church where youth leaders from OCO organized the biggest Deferred Action education forum event in the Bay Area. Youth and their families had the opportunity to hear a presentation by Mark Silverman, Immigration Attorney for the Immigrant Legal Resource Center on how immigrant youth qualify for the deferred action announced last month. Next deferred action forum is scheduled for August 23 at the Cesar Chavez Education Complex, 29th and International
March 28, 2012
Mobilizing more than a thousand youth and families in multiple actions over the past few months has resulted in commitments being implemented to reduce the sexual exploitation of minors in the San Antonio community.
OCO and Coalition Partners kicked of our All Kids, All Schools, Our Decisions Campaign with a press conference (60 leaders) to urge the Oakland Unified School Board to adopt policies that establish school site decision-making
New partnership forged by agreement between charters and school district will leverage change for all schools in Oakland
OCO moves city to move its money and collect the fines from big banks
OCO is working with Alameda County and other community organizations to pilot fire station clinic and enroll families in insurance programs
Encompass, Acorn, Korematus, and Esperanza Elementary Schools conducted actions securing commitments to increase safety, recreation and nutrition for students
OCO parents and student leaders from Castlemont and Fremont High Schools met with School Superintendent to secure say in school design and hiring
St Jarlath leaders organized a forum providing information and support to more than 200 immigrant families
Following end of the year Faith Vigils (100 leaders) mourning three young children and 100 others lost to gun violence last year, 300 West Oakland leaders led an action to advance jobs for the hard to employ and 350 East Oakland leaders led an action to implement proven strategies to reduce gun violence.
OCO Youth Organizing Committee researching the drop out problem in Oakland schools
August 19, 2011
A new report shows how we can solve the housing crisis and put people back to work by the millions. Can you help spread the word?
August 10, 2011
Every Wednesday for four weeks from mid-July to mid-August around 60 OCO leaders attended OCO's first Education Leadership Institute.
Last Wednesday, August 10th, OCO, along with 20 other Wells Fargo account holders, including St. Anthony’s Catholic Church and the Oakland Education Association, closed their accounts!
August 04, 2011
On August 4th, OCO leaders, along with EBAYC, Councilwoman Pat Kernighan, Police Chief Anthony Batts, and OUSD Superintendent Anthony Smith marched along International Boulevard to call for “Safe Streets, Safe Kids”.
July 24, 2011
On Sunday, July 24th, 11 attorneys and 22 leaders came together to hold their 8th immigration forum in the basement of St. Jarlath Church.
July 14, 2011
Since the June 2nd action at At Thy Word Ministries, the East Oakland community had a successful community-led Call-In on June 30th.
June 14, 2011
More than 900 PICO clergy, faith and community leaders from Placer to San Diego, CA came together in Sacramento on June 14, the eve of the constitutional deadline to ask Legislators to pass a balanced budget that invests in youth and protects vulnerable families.
June 12, 2011
On Sunday, June 12th we celebrated our 34th anniversary and annual membership meeting at Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church in West Oakland.
June 07, 2011
More than 400 parents, students, teachers and church members stepped out on faith to reclaim their neighborhood and to call on the city and school district to stand with them on June 7th.
June 02, 2011
On Thursday, June 2nd East Oakland pastors and leaders held an action at At Thy Word Ministries to advocate for the most effective and robust CeaseFire Call-In to stop the shootings and gun-related homicides in Oakland.
May 16, 2011
Last weekend, OCO held two events to help prevent violence and promote life.
May 11, 2011
Fifty West Oakland parents, community members and service providers attended OCO’s first West Oakland education action at St. Mary’s Center on May 10th, 2011.
May 05, 2011
On May 3rd, OCO held a “Save Our Schools” Action at the Cesar Chavez Learning Center and on May 4th, 30 OCO leaders traveled to Sacramento to support AB 609.
May 03, 2011
2,000 Oakland students, parents, teachers and school staff will rally at Cesar Chavez School Auditorium on May 3 to protest the State's attempt to enforce $25 Million in wrongful fines and charges on Oakland's public schools.
April 28, 2011
On Thursday, April 28th, Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) joined over 1,200 OCO, CCISCO, BOCA and COR leaders to highlight immigrant testimonies and to call on President Obama to halt unnecessary deportations which tear families apart.
March 20, 2011
During the week of March 14th, PICO California, together with allies at ACCE, California Reinvestment Coalition and SEIU, launched a statewide campaign to pass a package of new state legislation aimed at protecting homeowners from fraudulent bank foreclosure practices and making banks pay their fair share for the housing and foreclosure crisis that has devastated the budgets of families, local communities, and the state.
June 11, 2010
OCO youth and adult leaders received a firm commitment from Mayor Dellums and Police Chief Batts to have a policy in place in 45 days to end the practice of impounding cars from undocumented drivers for the sole reason of not having a driver’s license.
OCO Youth and Adult Leaders from Community Reformed gain commitments for comprehensive mental health services for youth affected by violence and at-risk for violent behavior.
March 31, 2010
OCO brought out more than 400 clergy and community leaders to lift up violence intervention practices that are reducing homicides and gun violence, here in Oakland and across the country. This work is a priority, and City Council Members Kaplan, Quan and Reid committed to find the resources to support it!
OCO youth and adult leaders return from a historic week long voyage with 50+ PICO leaders, all riding a bus to Washigton D.C. together, to stand up for immigration reform! In solidarity, 500 OCO faith leaders rallied back in Oakland.
OCO leaders fought for a multi-million dollar education complex. Now the ground is being prepared for construction.
OCO leaders win a seat at the table with Council Member Ignacio de la Fuente to shape a new ordinance that will make it easier for food vendors to have thriving business.
August 17, 2009
On Monday August 17th, 2,200 community leaders flooded St. Elizabeth Catholic Church to let local, state and federal representatives know that our country's broken healthcare and immigration systems are hurting our families, and must be reformed NOW!
June 24, 2009
After an 18 month fight with Oakland Unified School District, parents exercised their power to not only keep Life Academy High School in the neighborhood, but to improve the facility and build a Bio-Science Hall!
June 02, 2009
OCO leaders have won our first victory in our “Green Jobs for Life” campaign. Oakland City Council unanimously approved 2.2 MILLION of federal Community Development Block Grant money to fund a home weatherization program!
April 02, 2009
OCO's work to build the Small Schools Movement in Oakland has been nationally recognized by the prestigious Annenberg Institute for School Reform as one of the most powerful, bottom-up, community efforts in the country to have a lasting impact on the education system.
March 24, 2009
OCO leaders are working with Wachovia, Chase, Wells Fargo and Bank of the West to push for loan modifications that make sense for working families.
March 19, 2009
OCO's effort to build violence prevention teams in Oakland with street outreach, faith leaders, police and probation has been successful!! Now leaders are pushing city officials to build Oakland's green economy with federal stimulus dollars. We want to make sure "shovel ready" projects are accessible to people street outreach workers are encountering, and that those shovels are GREEN!
05/24/2013 6:30 PM
Now that Lifelines to Healing has started back up in Oakland, OCO is joining forces with other faith leaders to stop the gun violence in our community. Why are we on the streets for Oakland Ceasefire? We care! We want young men to stop being so violent toward one another! And we want to find out what are their needs! Join us every Friday for the night walks if you want the gun violence to end in Oakland neighborhoods.
OCO leaders joined the national PICO network and its allies to create the power to push for a comprehensive immigration bill in 2013. We are working on the local, state and national level in a joint effort to push for national legislation for citizenship. Join us and let's make this happen!
OCO leaders have dedicated themselves for over a decade to ensuring excellent and equitable education for every student in Oakland, particularly low-income students of color in the flatland schools. Building off our successes and learnings from the small schools movement, parent and student leaders are prepared to focus on lowering the drop-out rate and improving academic outcomes in our high schools through Linked Learning, which prioritizes academic rigor, work-based learning and robust student services. West Oakland leaders are ready to take STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) to the next level in neighborhood schools.
See how PICO changes lives, strengthens families and revitalizes communities across the country.
