2008 Koshland Connect - The San Francisco Foundation

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2007 West Berkeley alameda West Berkeley From Sacramento Avenue down to the shore of the Bay at the Berkeley Marina, West Berkeley has historically served as the strong, working shoulders of the City of Berkeley and surrounding region. It was here that immigrants from abroad, and African American migrants from the South, moved to work the bustling rail yards and war industries needed during World War II. Their hard work propelled the local economy, and the industries they worked in created a new middle class of proud homeowners, though these industries began to decline in the 1960s. Today, West Berkeley still serves as one of the driving forces in the city. Approximately 1,500 businesses here employ more than 15,000 workers and generate more than 44% of the city’s sales tax revenues. Yet the economic health of residents in the community is nowhere near as prosperous as these numbers may indicate. According to the Northern California Council for the Community, West Berkeley is one of the Bay Area’s 52 most impoverished neighborhoods. The 2000 Census report revealed that 60% of households are low-income, 41.1% are very lowincome, and 31% of children live in poverty. The face of the community is also changing. Asian and Latino populations are on the rise. In the city of Berkeley, Asian Americans are the second largest ethnic group, and from 1990 to 2000 the Latino population doubled. As new immigrants move in, new challenges and issues arise, especially for African Americans who have been vital to the neighborhood’s prosperity and culture. Students at Berkeley Technology Academy. In 1990, African Americans accounted for 40.6% of West Berkeley residents. In a ten-year span the population fell to 29.1% according to the U.S. Census. By 2003, the median income of black households was less than half that of white and Asian households across Alameda County. “The economy is by far the most serious issue for everyone, especially those already living on a tight budget,” said Victor Diaz, principal of the Berkeley Technology Academy and Koshland Fellow. “This obviously impacts our schools. Regardless of what people may think, parents from West Berkeley care deeply about their children’s education and want to be intimately involved.” Immigration information is exchanged at a BOCA-sponsored citizenship education event. 6
The Koshland Program recognizes the challenges facing this community and has selected eight leaders from the West Berkeley neighborhood as winners of the 2007 Koshland Civic Unity Awards. These eight Koshland Community Fellows will devise a strategic plan toward community improvement through Koshland’s $300,000, five-year commitment to West Berkeley. “West Berkeley is a neighborhood in transformation,” described Retha Robinson, director of the Koshland Program. “As older African American families sell their homes and move out, housing prices continue to rise. Yet many in the next generation do not have the solid jobs that enabled their parents to become homeowners. As residents from other parts of the Bay Area and new immigrants scramble for affordable homes, a housing crunch has resulted, with low-income renters bearing the brunt.” Compounding these pressures, the region faces a stark divide in test scores of students in the public school system. At Berkeley High School, white and Asian students perform at or well above national averages on exams, while many African American and Latino students perform well below the average. This trend is also mirrored across the state. With Berkeley’s reputation of living at the vanguard of multiculturalism and embracing diversity, this racial disparity in the school system is especially incongruous. We have seen that hard work can produce change. As principal of the Berkeley Technology Academy, Victor is part of the exciting new cohort of Koshland Fellows whose phenomenal dedication is felt each day in the community. Victor’s belief in students and their abilities has attracted new educators to the school and fostered results: this year Berkeley Technology Academy graduated twice as many students as last year. “Combine that with a lack of healthcare access for low-income people, neighborhood safety concerns, and no options for affordable housing – it reduces the sense of ownership within the community.” BOCA seeks to unlock the power of the people. A collection of 18 diverse Berkeley congregations, BOCA’s faith-based groups work together to challenge regional inequities by actively engaging parents, teachers, and government. It tackles issues ranging from the school achievement gap, to neighborhood violence, to the lack of affordable housing. Its members are active in translating faith and values into action. “We are excited to enter this partnership with West Berkeley and this incredible cohort of Fellows,” said Retha. “Victor and Belén exemplify this groups’ impressive level of expertise in the neighborhood and true connections with families. The passion, empathy, and commitment to families are evident in the everyday work of our eight new Fellows. They are truly dialed in to the community.” As the new Koshland Fellows begin to map out their strategy for investing in the neighborhood, the Koshland Program is energized by their enthusiasm and ability to seek innovative solutions for change. They epitomize the importance of direct local knowledge in creating a healthier community. Whether through local schools, congregations, nonprofits, resource centers, or community projects, the work of these unsung heroes resonates with the families and lives of the residents of West Berkeley. Shifting demographics means West Berkeley must face new challenges. Immigrants from Mexico and Central America are changing the neighborhood and immigration now ranks high as an issue the community must confront. Immigration and Custom Enforcement raids have become more common and many new residents fear government institutions may break up their families. “One of the challenges facing West Berkeley is not having resources for immigrants, both legal and undocumented,” said Belén Martinez, community organizer for Berkeley Organizing Congregations for Action (BOCA) and a Koshland Fellow. 7
Page 1 and 2: 8 introducing the 2007 koshland fel
Page 3 and 4: marin san francisco 6 10 19 15 5 13
Page 5: koshland civic unity awards Each ye
Page 9 and 10: Gerardo Marin Gerardo, fondly known
Page 11 and 12: Neighborhood and Faith Leaders Focu
Page 13 and 14: 2004-2009 Iron Triangle richmond In
Page 15 and 16: After founding and operating CFED f
Page 17 and 18: 2004-2009 Jordan Simmons iron trian
Page 19 and 20: The impact of the conference on our
Page 21 and 22: West Berkeley Fellows [July 24, 200
Page 23 and 24: Marcela C. Medina is vice president

2008 Koshland Connect - The San Francisco Foundation

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