23rd Avenue Corridor Action Team

23^rd Avenue Corridor Action Team
March 11, 2002
EBAYC

Attending: David Kakishiba, Elena Serrano, Eric Cone, Don Davenport, Hari Peramal, Karen Stevenson, Chris Thomas, Jessica Pitt

Agenda

• Updates
• EBAYC / SACDC Report
• April 20^th Neighborhood Clean-Up
• Short-Term Action Projects
• Organizational Interests/Priorities Discussion
• Next Steps

I. Updates

• EastSide Arts Alliance has been talking with the Reverend of the Mt. Calvery Baptist Church about moving into their annex. They did a walk through of the annex and it would work well for ESAA programs. The space needs a lot of work. ESAA discussed paying for tenant improvements. They now need to make a formal proposal to the Reverend. Don Davenport cautioned about tenant improvements—need to be very clear about who is responsible for what. Be sure to get everything in writing. Make sure to talk to the Board of Trustees and Deacons. Everyone agreed that we should invite the Reverend to the Collaborative meetings.
• The latest edition of the newspaper is out. The Newspaper Committee still needs help with distribution. The Committee has hired Darryl Ward as its new coordinator.
• YEP has reached a compromise with the City around the Team Oakland program. They received partial funding for the program. They are currently interviewing consultants for the pre-planning phase of the renovation of their building.

II. EBAYC / SACDC Report

SACDC

They have posted the merchant organizer job on Craig’s list. They haven’t gotten many promising applications. Ideally, they would like someone who is bi-lingual.The CDC is exploring a joint partnership with the Afro American Construction Workers Association for a mixed use development. They are looking at potential properties.There are a number of properties in the Corridor up for sale. Hari will bring an inventory of properties in the Corridor to the next meeting

EBAYC

EBAYC did a walk through of the Corridor with parents on March 6^th. They divided into groups and walked through different parts of the Corridor (notes from the groups are available). They looked at both assets and needs. Issues that parents identified, included:

• Safety was a major issueLand use, particularly vacant properties (i.e., store fronts, the Miller Library)
• Greater police presence
• Clean-up
• Regular activities for children

They discussed having parents sign-up for work teams and then work in an action research mode for the next month on the issues they decide to take on.

EBAYC has not yet hired new organizers.

III. April 20^th Neighborhood Clean-Up

David proposed using the April 20^th Earth Day clean-up as a day of action. It would involve a neighborhood clean-up, a barbecue, and a dialogue with city officials. The EBAYC organizers would do door-to-door outreach as a lead-up to the event.Garfield will be the staging area. YEP can bring 50-70 Team Oakland kids to participate.

To Do:

• Flyer
• Announcement in the newspaper
• Permit from City to use the field at Garfield
• Indoor venue in case of bad weather—YEP

IV. Short-Term Action Projects

There was a brief discussion about short-term action projects. The group discussed to what extent the work should be driven by the organizing process. If the work group takes on projects, will it preempt the organizing? Are there strategic opportunities that the group should move on that could complement the organizing? More discussion is needed on these questions.

There was a suggestion to organize a Citizen’s Academy. Find out what issues residents are interested in and organize the academy around those interests.

V. Organizational Interests/Priorities Discussion

This discussion was postponed because several people representing key organizations which are part of the work group did not attend the meeting.

VI. Next Steps

• Schedule a meeting with Christian Crews of the Waitt Foundation to discuss the scenario planning process when he is in Oakland on March 21^st.