What is with this weather?

August 2010 This summer, with the city in budget crisis, tension on the rise between police and communities, and our weather out of whack, everything feels a bit intense. In times like these, it's important that we stay focused on positive solutions to the problems facing our cities and state. Solutions that end harmful policies and create opportunities for people. Last month, a California jury found former BART police officer Johannes Mehserle guilty of involuntary manslaughterin the death of Oscar Grant, an unarmed Black man who he shot to death. I am still outraged that this shooting -- captured on video -- could be found anything less than murder. The trial and fate of Mehserle is just one step on the road to justice. We still have to transform the larger system that puts more resources into locking up youth of color than providing basic opportunities to succeed. A system that spends billions on police and prisons without demanding any accountability or outcomes for the communities they serve is not justice. You can be a part of the ongoing work to honor Oscar Grant’s memory by demanding justice and working for systemic change. Our work at the Ella Baker Center is to transform harmful institutions, policies and practices into opportunities for healing and helping people reach their full potential. Through our people-powered campaigns, we will weather the storms and create justice together. We hope you will continue to be a part of this work. Forward ever, Jakada Imani In This Issue Communities United Against the Dirty Energy Prop Our coalition to stop the Dirty Energy Prop is building momentum. Learning From Our Mistakes film now available After premiering to an overflow crowd, the latest Books Not Bars is now online in its entirety. Soul of the City at the Get Fresh Festival We're partnering with Keba Konte at the Get Fresh Campaign Launch on 8/14. Heal the Streets Releases Policy Recommendations Youth unemployment can lead to youth community violence. Take Action, California Ella Baker Center and collaborators launch new website highlighting actions through out the state. Communities United to Stop Prop 23 Proposition 23 aka the Dirty Energy Prop, a deceptive,Texas-oil-funded, job-smothering initiative, would cripple California's green economy and keep us addicted to oil while hurting people of color and low-income communities first and worst. Communities United Against the Dirty Energy Proposition is a statewide coalition that is bringing this campaign to the streets, and the streets to the campaign! Check out the new website for Communities United and join us. Together we will protect California’s leadership in a green recovery for our economy and our planet. It's Time to Learn from Our Mistakes On July 20, Books Not Bars premiered its newest film, Learning from Our Mistakes: Transforming Juvenile Justice in California, to a group of more than 200 community members and leaders. This 20-minute film demonstrates that we can redirect the school to prison pipeline that results in the disparate lock-up of youth of color AND provide rehabilitative care for youth who have gotten in the most serious trouble. By Learning from Our Mistakes, we can lead the nation in transforming juvenile justice systems to lift youth up rather than locking them down. You can now watch the film online! Get involved in our work to transform juvenile justice - you can pre-order a copy of the DVD, host a screening of your own, or advocate for reform in California -- sign up here. Soul of the City at Get Fresh Festival Soul of the City is very excited to partner with artist Keba Konte at the upcoming Get Fresh Campaign Launch byGrind for the Green on August 14. Come and join us, at Mosswood Park from 12:00-6:00PM. Participate in our Ribbon Mural Memorial for Oscar Grant and share your hopes and prayers for his memory, his family, and for a better Oakland for everyone. Soul of the City will host a table at Get Fresh for arts and crafts, community building and inviting all Oaklanders to take our new Pledge of Civic Engagement. Stop by or contact us to learn more about how to stand with us and make your voice heard. Click here to RSVP now! Heal the Streets Call for Youth Employment as Antidote to Violence During our first Heal the Streets fellowship, Oakland youth engaged in a participatory action research project to explore the link between youth community violence and youth unemployment. This policy paper outlines their thesis, research process, findings and recommendations -- please read and share it today. We hope that business owners, policy makers and youth will consider these findings in their efforts to make Oakland a more vibrant, just and safe community for all. Help us make next year's Fellowship even better: tell us your ideas for peace and youth leadership in Oakland and California. Take Action, California We're pleased to announce the launch of a new website,TakeActionCA.org. It's a central hub for political activism, action alerts, fact sheets and events in support of grassroots advocacy throughout California. A the result of a nearly year-long collaboration spearheaded by the Time For Change Foundation, Ella Baker Center and many other organizations, this new website gives you one place to go for news and action from a broad range of deeply committed organizations.Check it out, and Take Action California! UPCOMING EVENTS Ella Baker Center Volunteer Orientation Date: Tuesday August 10 Time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Location: Ella Baker Center 344 40th Street, Oakland Are you interested in getting involved with the Ella Baker Center? Do you have a few hours a week to contribute? Do you believe that people and the planet should come before profits? Now's your chance to get involved -- volunteer with Ella Baker Center. EMAIL TO RSVP Heal the Streets Info Sessions Dates: Wednesday, Aug 11 From 5:00 - 7:00 PM Thursday, August 19 5:00 - 6:30 PM Location: Ella Baker Center 344 40th Street, Oakland Are you a young person who wants to gain skills and make change in Oakland? Come learn more about our Heal the Streets fellowship, meet other local youth committed to peace and justice, and apply for this year’s program. RSVP FOR AUG 11 RSVP FOR AUG 19 Soul of the City Serve Our City Service Day Date: Saturday, August 14 Time: Setup: 9:00 AM. Festival from 12:00 - 6:00 PM Location: Mosswood Park Corner of Broadway and MacArthur Oakland Join Soul of the CIty as we create an Oscar Grant Ribbon Mural Memorial RSVP NOW A Celebration of Women's Suffrage Date: Thursday, August 26 Time: 3:00 PM, March and Rally 4:00 - 6:00 PM Location: Convention Center Sacramento, CA Join the California Nurses Association, labor organizations and community allies for a very special celebration of the 90th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote in the U.S. MORE INFO 4th Annual Ella Awards Date: Thursday, Oct. 14, 2010 Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Location: Scottish Rite Center 1547 Lakeside Drive, Oakland Save the Date for the 4th Annual Ella Awards -- From Seed to Root to Vision, October 14th. Our 2010 Awardees have just been announced! See who we'll be honoring and buy your tickets now at a special early bird rate. RSVP NOW Support & Donate Connect & Share Ella Baker Center Updates Ella Baker Center Staffing Updates The Ella Baker Center congratulates Sumayyah Waheed who moved into the position of Books Not Bars Campaign Director and Jennifer Kim who has taken on the role of Books Not Bars Policy Advocate. We are also pleased to welcome Alicia Caballero-Christenson (Soul of the City Associate) and Ricardo Moran (Communications Associate) to our team. Lastly, we want to share our gratitude with the awesome crew of summer interns who joined the Ella Baker Center family this summer -- many thanks to J.J. Barrow, Steven Benker-Ritchey, James Cogley, Michael Glassoff (who will continue into the fall), Keocco Larry, Stephanie Moreno, Abby Riley-Kerr, Sahar Shirazi, Bobby Stahl, Emerald Maravilla and Dana Twymon. California Apollo Alliance New Initiative Launch The California Apollo Program for Clean Energy and Good Jobs, launching next week, outlines the steps that California should take to create jobs by aggressively advancing our transition to a clean energy economy. This document will serve as a platform to promote a clean energy, good jobs agenda in this important year -- with elections coming up and California’s clean energy laws under attack by Texas Oil. Can your business or organization endorse this report? Make your endorsement now! Solar you can afford! The Ella Baker Center is proud to announce our new partnership with Sungevity. Signing a new, zero-down solar lease from Sungevity = $500 for Ella Baker Center + $500 for you! Learn more here. Camp Wellstone Activates the Community Last weekend, the Ella Baker Center hosted a Camp Wellstone training from the renowned Welltsone Action! at Laney College. Over 110 participants spent 2.5 days deepening their skills in electoral campaigns and grassroots organizing while others explored becoming progressive elected leaders in their communities. There was a strong Oakland presence, with brothers and sisters joining us from Bakersfield and Los Angeles, and even Brooklyn and Las Vegas. Check out photos from the weekend of learning and community.

Ella Baker Center for Human Rights www.ellabakercenter.org | 510.428.3939 344 40th Street | Oakland, CA | 94609