Homelessness is one many fights for human rights in the Bay Area, but especially in Oakland. According to the Public Policy Institute of California students of all ages are unhoused due to many different reasons.
Oakland Voices sat down with the leaders of Laney College Chapter of the Poor People’s Campaign, Dr. Kimberly King and Rev. Monica Cross, to talk about the fight and barriers they continue to push for college students to receive housing. The Poor People’s Campaign is a national group that focuses on demanding human rights for all.
Oakland Voices: How did the Laney College Poor People’s Campaign get started? What were the missions in mind to start the chapter?
Before working as the Poor People’s Campaign, we were the Laney College Teach-In Planning Committee in 2016. We thought that it was important to help the people that were directly being impacted by the economic and racial injustice in our society. Laney College and the Peralta District, the place where the Black Panther Party was founded, is an important place and a lot of the students face basic needs insecurity and we wanted to teach about them.
We started by offering the Teach-Ins as an educational opportunity for both civic engagement and political education to learn more about what’s happening in our city and our country. The Teach-Ins were at Laney College, in the biggest lecture hall on campus and professors would bring their classes to participate and learn.
The Poor People’s Campaign is a national campaign teaching about housing and human rights— our relationship with PPC organically aligned overtime because we were fighting the same fight, and had the same goals and missions. They already had many chapters in California set up, so we decided to join as a chapter with the work we already started.
What about the Poor People’s Campaign is important to you?
The Poor People’s Campaign is a national campaign that unites people of all colors, gender and ages which is what we were trying to accomplish as the Laney College Teach-In Planning Committee. We have always believed the way to make change is for larger numbers of people to see their commonality and to work together for these changes. The interest of the Poor People’s Campaign is a pillar of importance to fighting human rights issues. “We believe that people should not live or die from poverty in the richest nation ever to exist.”
How would you like to see the Laney College Chapter of the Poor People’s Campaign to grow?
We would like to continue to work with our Laney College Student Government, but it would be great if we could expand and work with all four Peralta College Student Governments. It’s not just Laney College students struggling. I would like to continue and involve more faculty and their classes in the Teach-Ins. We would also really like to help other chapters form groups that focus on Poor People’s Campaign issues as well. The movement is huge.
What are the next steps for the Laney College Chapter of the PPC?
This summer we really want to focus on our studies this summer to be able to empower others on current world issues. We want to be able to use that knowledge to continue our Teach-Ins. Also seeing the chapter grow is a next step— working with other Peralta College Student Governments, students and faculty. Form more outdoor Teach-Ins like we participated in Oakland on May Day. We want to continue to get involved in local politics and not just stay on campus.
What is something you would like the people to know about Laney College Poor People’s Campaign?
Yes, people often have this belief or myth that there is not enough to go around (scarcity). The Poor People’s Campaign reminds people that there is more than enough to go around. We also want to remind people that we ARE powerful and we CAN make a difference. That is why they are trying to divide us.
Interested in joining the movement?
The Poor People’s Campaign hosts virtual meetings on Tuesdays at 6 pm. More information available on the Laney College chapter’s social media page.
Note: Sydney Lester was a member of the Poor People’s Campaign, Laney College chapter, while a student.
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