By Janiero Rodriguez I just graduated from McClymonds High School in West Oakland. Like any school, there are “good kids” and those that we consider “bad kids.” When you’re a “bad kid,” that’s most likely how they’re going to see you for life. That...
By Jason Sullivan-Halpern As the volunteer coordinator at Catholic Charities of the East Bay, I have seen our volunteers do some pretty extraordinary things to help the community. You don’t have to look any farther than our Refugee Resettlement and Employment Program...
By Eric L. Steckel As I mingled with the students in the parish hall of Saint Ignatius Church, in Antioch, I was reminded of a recurring dream most of us have. It was the one where you show up for the final exam and you realize you are dreadfully unprepared. That one...
By Jason Sullivan-Halpern In a recent conversation with Meg Bowerman of Just Faith Ministries in the East Bay, I heard her remark that, “Catholic Charities is not just Catholic and it’s not just charity.” When I look at the people at Catholic Charities of the East Bay...
By Eric L. Steckel The City Council Chambers were quiet as the boy approached the microphone. He is new to this country, unable to speak English, but he knows the importance of the democratic system we enjoy. It was this very system that was responsible for him...
By Raul Zavaleta The Hayward City Hall was packed. You could overhear people asking questions in different languages as you made your way around the room to pick up the citizenship application. Volunteers at this citizenship workshop manned stations on the first and...
By Eric L. Steckel Last night, before a raucous crowd, Oakland City Council Member Noel Gallo, District 5, gave an impassioned plea in support of some of the most vulnerable in our society. Council member Gallo proposed an amendment to the city’s biennial budget...
By Buyisile Nzima My name is Buyisile Nzima. I’m a 24-year old female born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. I have spent most of my life in service of others. It is something that my mother taught me, not so much through words, but through deeds. She has a...
By Daniel Werner Last summer our country saw a large influx of women and children migrants coming from Central America to our Southern border. Many of these migrants cite violence and insecurity in their countries of origin as their reason for fleeing. According to...
by Eric Steckel My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. – Psalm 119:28… There are times when the city of Oakland elicits strong, contradictory emotions. Last night’s world premiere of Wounded Places was a very special celebration of...