February 2013 - Oakland Voices

Body Art for Cars

February 24, 2013 Debora Gordon

By Debora Gordon Say you have a black Honda. Or a white Chevy van. Drive around all day and see dozens of cars indistinguishable from yours. But it does not have to be that way.

A Former Teachers’ Union President Considers Her Legacy

February 23, 2013 Debora Gordon

Former Oakland Education Association President and current Sequoia Elementary School teacher Betty Olson-Jones poses in her 5th grade classroom Photo: Oakland Voices/Debora Gordon January 2013 By Debora Gordon Betty Olson-Jones is back in the classroom

To a Cop On a Chase, a Stolen Car May Be Worth More Than Your Life

February 23, 2013 Ronald Owens

What’s more valuable, your life or a stolen vehicle? To most people, that’s probably a no-brainer. Your life, of course. Let’s rephrase the question. What’s more valuable to a police officer chasing a suspected car

Looking at Lam and what needs to Be done

February 23, 2013 Debora Gordon

Lam was, and perhaps still is, a young man with a lot of potential. He could have gone on to lead a life of commonplace trials and triumphs; having a family, a job or a career,

Highland Journal, a Miniseries: Part III – The 7th Floor

February 23, 2013 Howard Dyckoff

First, there is Sam, the handy man. The “Eat at Mel’s, go for a 6 pack in the park” kind of guy. Having no medical insurance, ignoring health needs, eating the cheaper, high-calorie, low-nutrient food

Oakland Teacher Alison Ball Breathes Life into Math & Science

February 22, 2013 Debora Gordon

By Debora Gordon After early teaching stints in far flung locales from Ecuador and China to New York and Sunnyvale, 4th year middle school teacher Alison Ball, 29, came to Urban Promise Academy (UPA),

Highland Journal, a Miniseries: Part II

February 22, 2013 Howard Dyckoff

She carries needles and tubes, held in slender fingers. She’s looking for human blood. I see earrings, and under her white jacket, jewelry, a sequined top. I catch a honeysuckle scent. Leather heels. She clearly has

Highland Journal, a Miniseries: Part I

February 21, 2013 Howard Dyckoff

This is a tale of pain and fear, abated by the service, smiles and laughter of the Alameda County Medical Center (ACMC) staff. This is a story about my worst November ever: more than 2

A Call to Lam’s Mother

February 20, 2013 Debora Gordon

Many, perhaps most, parts of this story have been hard to tell. I often imagine someone who might be personally affected by a particular part of the story looking over my shoulder. As I write

Living Victoriously: Community Advocates Help Bay Area Women Transform Their Lives

February 18, 2013 Katherine Brown

It is rare to encounter folks that have faced numerous adversities, yet never complain. They continue to hold their heads up high, dig in their heels, and keep pushing for a better outcome. It is