Mayor Dellums' Office, Youth UpRising, the Oakland Police, Parks &
Recreation, Fire, and Human Services Departments partner with The Ella
Baker Center, Leadership Excellence, employers, labor unions and
service providers to promote peace in West Oakland.
F.A.S.T. Community Event
Saturday, September 15, 2007
2:00PM to 7:00PM
deFremery Park (18th & Adeline)
Oakland- F.A.S.T. (For A Safe Town), an old-fashioned community block
party, will bring out West Oakland residents of all ages for a day of
fun, access to important services and job opportunities, and
solidarity for peace. Through blending festivities and access to
critical supports, F.A.S.T. rightfully places public safety within its
broader community transformation context.
This completely FREE event will be organized into 5 areas, each
featuring an exciting array of attractions, including a BBQ Zone,
Employment Zone, Carnival Zone, Kiddy Fun Zone, Sports Zone, and
Entertainment Zone. Within the Employment Zone, the Oakland Police,
Fire, and other City Departments will be joined by private employers
and Labor Unions in recruiting Oakland residents for Oakland jobs.
Additionally, a Job Readiness booth will connect attendees to
employment assistance following the event.
As part of Mayor Dellums' multi-dimensional approach to public safety,
this event features hands-on prevention and intervention programs
working in partnership with traditional public safety agencies.
Through F.A.S.T., Mayor Dellums, a native of West Oakland, is
encouraging a higher collaboration between community members; as he
stated at a recent public safety meeting, "When neighbors know each
other, neighborhoods are safer."
The Oakland Police Department (OPD) is a full partner in F.A.S.T.,
exhibiting a commitment to improve its standing within communities
like West Oakland and among youth most likely to be impacted by
violence. OPD sees this as a unique opportunity to do community
policing in tandem with prevention and intervention efforts, while
recruiting potential officers from West Oakland. The OPD helicopter
and lowrider patrol car will serve as interactive, fun ways to engage
young people. However, the highlights of the day will be numerous
brave commanders taking turns in the dunk tank and officers
participating in the 3-on-3 OPD vs. Youth basketball tournament.
The Oakland Fire Department (OFD), another key sponsor, will promote
fire prevention and emergency preparedness. In honor of National
Disaster Preparedness Month, OFD will sign attendees up for Citizens
of Oakland Respond to Emergencies (CORE), its free training program
which builds self-reliance and helps neighborhoods establish response
teams. Additionally, with a fire truck on location, OFD will engage
youth with interactive tours and its Stop-Drop-Roll training.
Oakland Parks & Recreation (OPR), the event host, will provide a range
of exciting recreational activities. More importantly, in a formal
Peace Pole Ceremony, OPR will declare deFermery Park, a "Drug Free
Zone" and re-dedicate it as a safe neighborhood space.
Youth UpRising (YU) is the overall event producer, lending both its
innovative approaches to engaging high-risk youth and its violence
prevention expertise. An expansion of YU's annual Hotter Than July
Block Party, F.A.S.T., will bring out West Oakland representatives
Councilwoman Nadel and Supervisor Carson. YU is also leveraging its
relationship with Too $hort, an Oakland native and six time
consecutive platinum selling rap legend -- for him to promote a strong
public safety message and perform his poignant song "The Ghetto."
The Ella Baker Center for Human Rights (Silence The Violence Campaign)
will host a Memorial Altar and lead the event's Peace Pledge Drive,
the signing of which grants attendees free access to everything
F.A.S.T. offers. Leadership Excellence will co-host the Employment
Zone with YU. Oakland Department of Human Service will lend staffing
support, having invited its Measure Y service providers.
F.A.S.T., an event of Youth UpRising's Rappers+OPD for a Violence Free
Oakland, is sponsored by Mayor Dellums' Office, the Oakland Police,
Parks & Recreation, Fire and Human Services Departments, Oakland
Councilwoman Nancy Nadel, and Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson,
with support from the Ella Baker Center, and Leadership Excellence.
For press inquiries regarding F.A.S.T. Please contact:
Jacky Johnson, jackyjohnson@gmail.com or 510.717.2260
For More information on F.A.S.T. please contact:
Omana Imani, omana@youthuprising.org or 510.777.9909 ext. 134
