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EQUITY WORKING GROUP (EWG)

The City of Oakland Equity Working Group (EWG) is a Resident Advisory Council of 17 community members convened by the Deeply Rooted in Oakland Partnership (Deeply Rooted Collaborative). The EWG is a two year-long process where community residents help inform policy priorities for the General Plan 2045 Phase 1 and Phase 2. 

 

Roles of the Equity Working Group:

  1. Identify the major challenges and impacts of the General Plan 2045 (housing, safety, environmental justice, land use, transportation, and parks).

  2. Advocate for solutions that advance equitable and healthy communities for Oakland residents.

  3. Provide feedback to City of Oakland Planning & Building Department staff on key planning issues.

  4. Provide feedback on the community education materials the Deeply Rooted Collaborative created to ensure that materials are accessible and share important context for Oakland residents.

 

The EWG meets 1 to 2 times a month on Zoom. Members applied and were selected by an interview committee from the Deeply Rooted Collaborative. Members' applications and interviews considered diversity in their evaluation.  EWG members are paid $75 per meeting for their participation.

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Who is ON the EWG?

EWG members belong to communities impacted by racial exclusion and are traditionally less engaged by the City of Oakland. Communities represented include unhoused, formerly incarcerated, low-income, Asian American, Black, Latinx, multiracial, people with disabilities, undocumented, and people experiencing environmental injustices.

 

Target geographic areas include West Oakland, East Oakland, North Oakland, Chinatown, and Fruitvale. EWG members represent the diversity in race and ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation of Oakland. The EWG also includes small business owners in Oakland.

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Selected EWG Members

Arthur Shanks, Bethsaida Ruiz, Cathy Eberhardt, Champ Green, David Peters, Esther Goolsby, iris quach, Keta Price, Liana Molina, liz suk, Naru Kwina, Nayeli Bernal (April - October 2022), Nora Smith, Priscilla Hoang, Reinaldi Gilder, Sandra Ue, Shina Robinson

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EWG Conversations So Far

20 Meetings (as of 3/8/23)

  • 12 Regular Meetings

  • 8 Special Meetings (Meeting with City Directors, Departments and smaller meetings to review engagement materials)

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EWG Regular Meeting Timeline

  • Meeting #1: May 11, 2022

  • Meeting #2: June 8, 2022

  • Meeting #3: July 13, 2022

  • Meeting #4: August 10, 2022

  • Meeting #5: September 14, 2022

  • Meeting #6: September 28, 2022

  • Meeting #7: October 12, 2022

  • Meeting #8: October 26, 2022

  • Meeting #9: November 30, 2022

  • Meeting #10: December 14,2022 

  • Meeting #11: January 11, 2023

  • Meeting #12: March 8, 2023

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EWG member Application Process

 

Outreach

The EWG application was open from December 22, 2021 to February 6, 2022. Digital and paper applications were available in English, Spanish, and Chinese. During this time, Deeply Rooted Collaborative partners shared EWG information in English, Spanish and Chinese on the Oakland General Plan 2045 website, with City Council members, and with their networks via email, social media and word of mouth. 

 

The Equity Working Group Selection Committee, comprised of representatives from Black Arts Movement Business District, CDC; EastSide Arts Alliance; Just Cities, Malonga Arts Residents Association; The Village In Oakland; Urban Strategies Council; Unity Council; and West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project convened from February to March 2022 to review applications, interview applicants, and make final selections. The EWG received 66 applications, interviewed 24 applicants, and selected 20 members with the following criteria in mind.

 

Criteria

EWG member applications were evaluated based on 6 criteria to ensure representation of diverse backgrounds and neighborhoods across Oakland. 

  • Hard-to-reach communities: People from communities that the City of Oakland traditionally has trouble engaging, including unhoused, formerly incarcerated, low-income, Asian American, Black, Latinx, multiracial, people with disabilities, undocumented, and people experiencing environmental injustices.

  • In target geographic areas of West Oakland, East Oakland, North Oakland, Chinatown, and Fruitvale.

  • Age diversity: People at different stages of their lives to ensure varied knowledge and experiences.

  • Diversity of gender and sexual orientation: To ensure women’s and LGBTQ+ perspectives are included in this process.

  • People who own small businesses in Oakland.

  • Commitment to attend 12 EWG meetings, share information, and review draft summary documents during the Oakland General Plan 2045 process.

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