Civic Engagement & Leadership

Overview

The Oakland Housing Authority (OHA) is committed to providing opportunities, venues and programs that allow motivated residents to develop their leadership skills and potential.  Whether through volunteering at OHA and community events, serving in a leadership capacity in a local community group or board or by participating in a workshop series, the Family and Community Partnerships Department (FCP) works to provide residents with opportunities to participate, network and avail themselves of ideas and best practices for civic engagement and community involvement.

Civic Engagement Activities

Resident Advisory Board (RAB) – The OHA Resident Advisory Board​​ (RAB) was created as a resident organization that represents the interests of residents at large and participates in the annual planning process. The first RAB was recruited, nominated and trained during the 1999-2000 fiscal year and since that time the RAB has met regularly and continues to provide valuable input to OHA’s Annual Plan and HUD reports, as well as other issues that have impacted the agency over the years. The RAB is actively engaged in several projects, including its annual Halloween gift bag and senior emergency kit distribution for our public housing and Asset Managed properties.

To ensure that Public Housing Residents and Section 8 Participants of the Oakland Housing Authority (OHA) actively participate in the decision-making process regarding OHA policies and procedures, are actively engaged in their community and are building leadership skills.

RAB meetings are held the second Wednesday of every month. Meetings are held in the Executive Conference Room of OHA’s main administration building at 1619 Harrison Street, Oakland, CA from 5:00PM-7:00PM. 

Eligible residents must be nominated by an OHA staff or residents before May and December of the calendar. All nominations will be submitted to the Board of Commissioners for official appointment. Nominations to the RAB are made from a variety of departments including the Office of Property Operations, Leased Housing, Family & Community Partnerships and OHA residents. All nominations are then forwarded to the Executive Office where the list is reviewed for final consideration. New members are identified from resident interest and from participants in leadership programs including Parent Cafes, OHA Resident Leadership programs, the OHA Volunteer Program and the Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) program.

Resident Advisory Board (RAB) meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at the Oakland Housing Authority Leased Housing office located at 1540 Webster Street, Oakland, CA.  Meetings are from 5:00PM–7:00pm in the Main Conference Room on the 1st floor (unless otherwise noted). Light refreshments are served. The meeting is also facilitated on Zoom at:

Join Zoom Meeting:

All OHA residents are invited to attend all meetings regardless of their housing type (e.g., Public Housing, Section 8, etc.).  Residents are also welcome to bring guests such as family members, representatives from community-based organizations or neighbors. 

Members of the OHA staff also attend RAB meetings and are on hand to answer questions about OHA operations and services. 

The meetings alternate between regular meetings and working sessions. Please note that meeting times and locations are subject to change. You may call the Department of Family and Community Partnerships at (510) 587-5115 for information about upcoming meetings. 

Volunteer Program

The Volunteer Program provides residents the opportunity to build community and promote civic involvement in the OHA community. The Volunteer Program is designed to provide support to community efforts and build and foster positive relationships with community members. Volunteer activities may include:

  • Event and Workshop Support
  • Office Support
  • Outreach and Relationship Building

Leadership Development Activities

Provides residents the opportunity to build community and promote civic involvement within the OHA community and throughout the City of Oakland. The objective is to create safe forums where trust and respect can be fostered among community members to address the many concerns and challenges residents face each day.

Education Ambassador Program – ​​Provides opportunities for residents to serve as leaders within the local school system. The participating parents serve at twelve partner schools, select throughout the district, that pilot our attendance improvement and parent involvement efforts. The Education Ambassadors work in partnership with OHA staff and the principals at partner school sites to identify tasks and projects that meaningfully contribute to the entire school community, with an emphasis on increasing attendance for those struggling with chronic absenteeism. Education Ambassadors are role models who exhibit “good neighbor” qualities in support of the full-service community school model.

Available to OHA residents who have completed the Neighborhood Leadership Institute. To Resident Advisory Board Members, this innovative space provides our Resident Leaders a place and resource to work to create positive changes within the City of Oakland. Developed by and for our resident leaders who work on civic engagement activities, these leaders have access to state-of-the-art facilities to conduct meetings or training, participate in workshops, access computers, and obtain office support for various projects in this professional office setting.  Staffed by Resident Leaders, the center will also be a place that nurtures community empowerment and local initiatives to create​ an inclusive, healthy community for all.

Resident Leadership

T: (510) 587-5104

RLC@oakha.org