Our Approach

We imagine a future that centers stimulating

social, cultural, + economic wealth

for Black and legacy Oaklanders

fostering permanence, mutual aid, and community ownership.

Our Priorities

  • Direct Organizing

    Create meaningful relationships with residents and small businesses.

  • Real Estate Ownership

    Build partnerships to acquire commercial properties and revitalize underused spaces.

  • Community Stewardship

    Strengthen, build, and sustain stewardship organizations, like a business association, to support, implement, and safeguard the long-term vision for 7th Street.

  • Service Delivery Improvements

    Beautify the block and improve public services including trash pick-up, street lighting, and the 311 service complaint system.

  • Market Making

    Attract and retain a dedicated customer base for 7th Street businesses through events and marketing strategies.

How we got here…

West Oakland’s 7th Street corridor was once home to more than 70 enterprises (like markets, cleaners, restaurants, hotels, gyms, and nightclubs). The historic corridor birthed the West Coast Blues and attracted people from around the world. Urban Renewal and federal programs dismantled West Oakland and its thriving Black community at its peak. These top down decisions displaced businesses, created poor air quality, and broke up critical social and cultural institutions. Even so, 7th Street remains a powerful symbol of Black culture and belonging in Oakland.

How it’s going

  • Coming soon!

  • 2024 - 2026

    Core Team

    → East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative

    Noni Session, Executive Director

    Sabine Dabady, Corridor Manager

    → LISC Bay Area

    Sasha Werblin, Director of Economic Development

    Devyn White, Assistant Program Officer

    7th Street Neighborhood Business Council

    • Sterling Arts

    • The Crucible

    • Self-Help Credit Union

    • Mandela Partners

    • 7th West

    • East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative

    Community Implementation Partners

    • Alliance for Community Development

    • City of Oakland, Economic and Workforce Development

    • City of Oakland, Department of Transportation

    • City of Oakland, City Administrator

    • Community Vision

    • Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area (LCCRSF)

    • Kingmakers of Oakland

    • Lincoln Families

    • Pointe Agency

    • Viscera Studios

    • 7th West

    Community Partners

    • Friends of Mandela Parkway

    • Serial Material

    • Hella Positive

    • West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project

    • Moler Barber College

    • Mandela Grocery Cooperative

    • Oaklandish

    • Kids Play Zone

    • Kinetic Arts

    • Mama Jeans Create Hub

    • Jolly Jolly

  • 2023 - 2024

    Implementation Team

    • 7th West

    • Alliance for Community Development

    • City of Oakland

    • East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative

    • Local Initiatives Support Corporation

    • Viscera Studio

  • 2021 - 2023

    Early Ideation Partners

    • Adrionna Fike, Mandela Grocery Cooperative

    • Aisha Brown, Bay Area Regional Transit (BART)

    • Ari Takata-Vasquez, Oakland Indie Alliance

    • Bosco Kante, ElectroSpit

    • Ciara Sedura, Mandela Partners

    • Jared Spencer, City of Oakland

    • KaSelah Crockett, KaCierge

    • Kevin Pelgone, 7th West

    • Leonardo Nelson, Self-Help Federal Credit Union

    • Leticia Henderson, Exceptional Community Connections, LLC

    • Margaret Gordon, West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project

    • Melanie Nuni, Alliance for Community Development

    • Michael Chao, Self-Help Federal Credit Union

    • Miles Dotson, Sanctuary for Sustainable Artistry

    • Monica Edwards, Community HDC

    • Nicole Thompson, Oakland Housing Authority (OHA)

    • Noni Session, East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative (EBPREC)

    • Patricia Wells, Oakland Housing Authority (OHA)

    • Regina Davis, SUDA

    • Shawnee Keck, City of Oakland

    • Stefanie Parrott, Realtor

    • Marqueta Price, The Hood Planner

    • Cat Howard, Community Vision

    • Dianna Tremblay, Inner City Advisors

    • May Mui, East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC)

Media

Articles

KQED // Historic West Oakland Blues Club’s Restoration Reveals Layers of Hidden History

Next City // Black Commercial Corridors Are Still Banking on Culture

Newsletters

Q1 2026 Newsletter