get these nets
Veteran
05/22/25
Rise East Unlocks $100 Million to Reimagine East Oakland
Rise East did it.
In 2023, Rise East — anchored by a collective of nonprofits known as the 40×40 Council — received a $50 million grant from Blue Meridian Partners, a national philanthropic organization. But there was a catch: The money could only be unlocked if Rise East raised $50 million from local donors.
On the Thursday episode of Forum, Rise East formally announced it had surpassed the goal. The work of investing $100 million in East Oakland to drive systemic change — with a focus on education, public safety and housing — has already begun.
What we’re talking about is a 40-square-block area — roughly from Interstate 580 to the San Francisco Bay and from Seminary Avenue to the San Leandro border — that has the densest concentration of Black people in Oakland. It’s where our shared history of disinvestment in Black communities can’t hide.
Rise East has a 10-year plan to address decades of harm. And it’s East Oakland natives who are leading the effort with hopes of keeping Black families in the neighborhood while encouraging the return of those displaced by economic barriers and systemic disinvestment.
Carolyn Johnson, CEO of the Black Cultural Zone, which, among other things, addresses the displacement of Black People and Black businesses in Oakland, emphasizes the need for affordable housing and job creation. For a community to exist and thrive, there has to be a place reserved for the community.
“There hasn’t been an effort like this that actually has the voices of folks who are born and raised in the area to be a part of the conversation,” Johnson told my colleague Brian Watt in November. “My vision is to see commercial corridors that are thriving, that are vibrant, that are filled with cultural artisans, makers.”
The Liberation Park project, a formerly abandoned lot that has been converted into a cultural hub, and the 8321 International Welcome Center are key Rise East initiatives. Johnson, who grew up in East Oakland, said Rise East is focused on healing and strengthening the Black community.
“If we don’t hold ‘place,’ we won’t be here,” she said. “So real estate is an important part, and really giving people opportunities to build economic wealth is critical.”
The $100 million is an investment in the health, safety and prosperity of East Oakland. It’s not enough to cure systemic inequities, but it can change the fortunes of a neighborhood and city.
