Transforming Lives - Building Community
Creating Change

Senior Advocates for Hope and Justice

If we do not speak up who will?

Senior Advocates for Hope and Justice are seniors of downtown and West Oakland and community volunteers. Many of us have been or are homeless; have stayed at St. Mary’s Center winter shelter; deal with addiction and/or mental illness; and survive on very low income.
Senior Advocates seek to secure the human rights of low-income and homeless seniors living in Oakland, California. We stand up and speak out for:
  • Affordable housing
  • Income and food security
  • Affordable health care
  • The United Nations Declaration on Human Rights.
How We Advocate
Our life experiences inform us as leaders and inspire us to be engaged in democracy and justice.
We:
  • Educate people about human needs
  • Tell our stories at public meetings
  • Partner with others to improve our community:
    • - Alameda County Community Food Bank
    - Feet on the Street
    - Just Cause
    - United Seniors of Oakland
    - JustFaith
    - California Partnership
    - Women’s Economic Agenda Project
    - Attitudinal Healing, etc.
  • Write letters and sign petitions to impact federal, state and local legislation
  • Hold social justice events at St. Mary’s Center
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Awards

Our community voice and leadership is recognized and honored by: Global Citizen Award from United Nations Association/East Bay, Local Hero Award from Housing Rights Inc., commendations from elected leaders and others.

Individual advocates have been honored by: University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health, Alameda County Mental Health Association and others.

Accomplishments
  • Worked to pass California’s Mental Health Services Act (Proposition 63).
  • Advocated to stop proposed bus fare increases for seniors, disabled and youth.
  • Participated in published research projects about poverty with UCLA, The Oakland Institute and others.
  • Appointed to leadership roles in California Congress of Seniors, United Seniors of Oakland and Alameda County.
  • Exhibited art work about human needs locally and at our nation’s capitol.
How You Can Help
Join us in our work for human rights and social justice.
  • Participate in weekly Senior Advocates for Hope & Justice meetings.
  • Educate yourself about issues affecting low income people.
  • Engage in promoting justice.
  • Build community at St. Mary’s Center and in our West Oakland neighborhood.


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