Telling Our Stories: The Housing Chronicles

Alan Dones, a revered developer sits with us and tells a story that began fourteen years ago - and hasn't ended yet. His journey developing what is known as Thomas Berkeley Square, the principled and unwavering way he navigates obstacles, the grace with which he speaks truth to racist power, and the eager joy with which he looks at the future is a testament to the best parts of humanity. This is Part I of a two-part series.

Sup...

Alan Dones, a revered developer sits with us and tells a story that began fourteen years ago - and hasn't ended yet. His journey developing what is known as Thomas Berkeley Square, the principled and unwavering way he navigates obstacles, the grace with which he speaks truth to racist power, and the eager joy with which he looks at the future is a testament to the best parts of humanity. This is the second half of a two-part s...

In this Part II of our three-part interview, we continue our conversation with Anna Cash (Community Development Project Coordinator at City of Berkeley, Jassmin Poyaoan former Program Director of the Community Economic Justice Clinic at East Bay Community Law center and current Program Director at Economic Justice Program at Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights (San Francisco), and Ayanna Davis (Deputy Executive Director at Healthy B...

In this Part I of a three-part series we are joined by City of Berkeley’s Anna Cash City of Berkeley’s Community Development Project Coordinator, Jassmin Poyaoan former Program Director of the Community Economic Justice Clinic at  East Bay Community Law Center and current Program Director at Economic Justice Program at Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights (San Francisco), and Ayanna Davis Deputy Executive Director at Healthy Black Fa...

In this part III (and final) segment of our interview with Friends of Adeline, we speak with Ms. Ritchie Smith, Willie Phillips, and Chris Schildt about their perspective of the initiative known as Equity for Black Berkeley, its funding and thoughts on solidarity.
Contact Guests:
Phone (510) 338-7843
Emailfriendsofadeline@gmail.com 
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FriendsofAdeline/
Instagram https://www.insta...

In this Part II of our three-part interview with key members of Friends of Adeline - a local South Berkeley organization, we continue our conversation with Ms. Ritchie Smith, Willie Phillips, Mari Mendonca, and Chris Schildt. How is the endeavor towards equity situated in the current American culture and its systems? Who do we organize - and how?
Contact Guests:
Phone (510) 338-7843
Emailfriendsofadeline@gmail.com 

In this Part I of a three-part interview, we meet some key members of Friends of Adeline - Ms. Ritchie Smith, Willie Phillips, Mari Mendonca, and Chris Schildt. These four neighbors that call South Berkeley home tell us who they are and how they (along with other neighbors) came to be the mighty Friends of Adeline.
Contact Guests:
Phone (510) 338-7843
Emailfriendsofadeline@gmail.com 
Facebook https://www.facebook.c...

In this last of a three-part interview with Alan Dones, we discuss where the money comes from in development, how the stark contrast of who has access to it and who doesn’t undergirds the continuity of institutional racism, and how that then, in turn, has robbed Black people of building baseline financial security since the inception of this nation.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission
https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/36828<...

In this is Part II of a three-part interview with Alan Dones, he breaks down what development is, how the intricacies of community engagement fit into large scale development, and what a healthy relationship between the two might look like.
Deepening Knowledge:
What Is a Planning Commission?
https://www.planetizen.com/definition/planning-commissions
Planning Commission 101
https://www.calcities.org/docs/default-...

In this Part I of a three-part interview, we meet Alan E Dones - a third generational local developer in the Bay Area. He shares with us the personal legacy that is his profession, how racism works in housing development to keep people oppressed, and what needs to be done to earnestly fix the current housing situation.
Furthering Knowledge:
The Challenge of Being a Black Developer
https://www.planetizen.com/news/2021/0...

In this last second half of a two-part interview, Randolph Bell of Creative Development Partners (an organization hired by the City of Berkeley to facilitate communication between the city, a soon-to-be-chosen developer, local community organizations, and Bay Area Rapid Transit - BART) walks us through the different parts of development, the funding mechanisms and expectations, and how the local organizers’ ask for equity presents ...

In this Part One of a two -part interview, meet Randolph Belle of Creative Development Partners - an organization hired by the City of Berkeley to facilitate communication between the city, a soon to be chosen developer, local community organizations, and Bay Area Rapid Transit (known locally as BART). Who is Creative Development Partners? What is their role in Equitable Black Berkeley? What are some examples of different ways comm...

In this last part of our three-part interview with Mayor - Jesse Arreguín, Council Member of District 3 - Ben Bartlett, and Chief of Staff (to the Mayor) - Jaqueline McCormick we continue our conversation on how, as administrators of the City of Berkeley, they took up the challenge of equity as it relates to the city's housing crisis by linking arms and brainstorming with local organizers to think outside the box to try and us...

In this part two of our three-part interview with Mayor - Jesse Arreguín, Council Member of District 3 - Ben Bartlett, and Chief of Staff (to the Mayor) - Jaqueline McCormick we continue our conversation on how, as administrators of the City of Berkeley, they took up the challenge of equity in Berkeley's housing crisis by linking arms, brainstorming with local organizers, and thinking outside the box to lay the foundation on b...

 Meet the trio in the City of Berkeley pushing  boundaries to try and usher in new solutions to rooted wrongs in housing and development injustices. In this part one of our three-part interview meet Mayor - Jesse Arreguín, Council Member of District 3 - Ben Bartlett, and Chief of Staff (to the Mayor) - Jaqueline McCormick. What got them into public service? What is the current housing situation they face? What has been attempted? H...

This is the finale of our 4 part conversation with incredible leaders of Healthy Black Families, we will unpack a recently much-used term “equity”  as we experience it and what we aim for when we envision it. Most important, we will be discussing how community can and should plug into this incredible work at Healthy Black Families. We are blessed to have Executive Director Wilhelmina Wilson, Deputy Executive Director Ayanna Davis, ...

This episode is part three of our four-part conversation with Executive Director Wilhelmina Wilson, Deputy Executive Director Ayanna Davis, and the Director of our Board Suzette Chaumette incredible women playing critical roles at Healthy Black Families. This episode looks at how HBF is hoping to organize the community and why.

Connect with Healthy Black Families:

Website: https://healthyblackfam.org/

Instagram: https://www....

In this Part II of a  four-part series Wilhelmenia Wilson (Executive Director), Ayanna Davis (Deputy Executive Director), and Suzette Chaumette (Board President) of Healthy Black Families, Inc. identify  some of the root societal reasons for the manifestation of our current housing crisis locally, regionally, and nationally.

How did we get here?  How could  conditions be what they are given the struggles fought and won in ...

In this Part I of a  four-part series meet Wilhelmenia Wilson (Executive Director), Ayanna Davis (Deputy Executive Director), and Suzette Chaumette (Board President) of Healthy Black Families, Inc.

Who are they? What led them to this work? What does housing have to do with a human’s overall health?

Connect with Healthy Black Families:

Website: https://healthyblackfam.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/health...