Oakland is suffering from budget cuts leading to a decrease in city resources. There are fewer employment opportunities for residents, the cost of housing has increased dramatically, and most recently there have been major cuts in our already poor schools. The limited resources that are available are being poorly spent on policies that do not effectively address the problems that affect youth, poor people, and people of color in the community. As a result of the poor conditions of the city, particularly the lack of jobs, violence and crime is increasing. Research shows that there is a direct correlation between employment and violence, as the unemployment rate rises, so does the rate of violence. One conclusion to draw is if the unemployment problem is not addressed, the violence and crime will only increase throughout the city.

Due to the lack of leadership and a clear and unified vision, the Oakland community has not been able to address the root causes of crime and violence and propose an effective solution. The community is divided on many levels and is in need of guidance through a process that approaches the violence problem in a both productive and sustainable way. Youth, adults, seniors and people of different races need something to unite with. A multiracial and multigenerational vision is important because the only plan that will be successful for the youth is one that involves and reflects the diversity of the people in Oakland.

Up to this point the only solutions to address violence in Oakland have been ineffective and negative towards youth. Oakland city officials proposed both the Anti-Loitering ordinance and Measure FF as violence prevention strategies. Measure FF proposed 100 more police officers as a solution and the Anti-Loitering Ordinance will allow officers to ticket people whom they assumed might have the intent to sell drugs. The problem with both strategies was that youth were used as a scapegoat to the real problems in the community. Instead of addressing the root causes of crime, these proposals placed the responsibility and blame on youth. For this reason they were highly disputed by community members and organizations. Both of the aforementioned proposals ignored the correlation between violence and unemployment and instead promoted the criminalization of youth as a viable solution to the violence. They ignored the root causes of crime, which includes poverty caused by unemployment. That approach has created a very negative and reactive response from the community, particularly youth.

PUEBLO and YOU are proposing to create a mentorship and job training and placement program for youth in Oakland. The program would provide mentorship and job training in a trade skill to youth in their early teenage years and then provide job placement in union wage jobs as the youth become eligible to work. This program is part of a comprehensive violence prevention plan that serves as a proactive response to the recent surge of anti-youth violence prevention policies that have been put forth by the mayor and OPD. The program addresses the need for economic development and justice in Oakland among youth, especially poor youth of color. There are no sustainable and productive means of employment for young people in the city. Members from all parts of the community will be able to unite on this proposal because everyone agrees that youth in Oakland need guidance, employment, and constructive activities to keep them off the streets.

As a multi-racial/ generational campaign, this program will bring together a broad base of people to create a program that is value driven. This campaign aims to guide and unite various sectors of community groups, leaders, and individuals around a common vision. It will bring together people that have not traditionally worked together in the past uniting influential groups in Oakland to propose a way of addressing the issues that are plaguing our streets and young people.

This campaign will reframe the role of the government as a way to provide quality employment. It is the large assumption that government will not involve itself in providing or promoting this type of employment for individuals in society. PUEBLO is trying to challenge that idea and prove there needs to be a collective community effort to ensure that the members of this city are not impoverished and left without the skills to maintain a living for themselves or their families. Government needs to play a key role in facilitating and supporting this process that will include local employers and individuals in the community.

Campaign will increase corporate accountability to Oakland residents and provide city officials a vital role in ensuring that the business to community relationships are successful.

This is an economic justice campaign. Currently, there are not many quality jobs available for people of color and poor people in Oakland. Residents commute outside the city for employment because the jobs within the city are consumed by outside residents. People who live in this community deserve quality jobs in this city that promote longevity, personal development, and provide a strong financial backing. PUEBLOÔøΩs mission includes fighting for rights and quality of life for all members of the community. This campaign will demand equality and quality of life. It addresses racism by placing jobs with value in a community that is marginalized and youth are forced into working at malls and fast food chains. It will give our youth the opportunities to receive guidance to succeed.