Approved as to Form and Legality
2022 OCT 18 PH 3! 06
FILEDOFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
OAKLAND
City Attorney’s Office
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. 8 9 4 2 0 C.M.S.
INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBER NOEL GALLO
RESOLUTION, AS PART OF NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE
MONTH, HONORING HISPANIC/LATINX COMMUNITY LEADERS IN
ALL COUNCIL DISTRICTS FOR THEIR CONTINUAL YEAR-ROUND
WORK
WHEREAS, Hispanic Heritage Week, began in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson, was expanded to National Hispanic Heritage Month by President Ronald Reagan and enacted into law in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15, the day which represents the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries; and WHEREAS, we acknowledge that the term Hispanic is not representative to all those who are from Latin America. Hispanic/Latinx are a mixture of a rich and diverse ethnic groups; and WHEREAS, the Bureau of the Census estimates the Hispanic/Latinx population living in Oakland as of 2018 is 27 percent; and
WHEREAS, Hispanics/ Latinx are leaders in all aspects of our national life, from the Supreme court and halls of congress, members of the United States Armed Forces, educators, small business owners etc.; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month we honor the following outstanding Hispanic/Latinx individuals and organizations, who through their groundbreaking work and innovation have promoted positive change for the city of Oakland and all its residents; and
WHEREAS, Mayor Libby Schaaf is proud to honor Assemblymember Mia Bonta for National Hispanic Heritage Month. Mia currently represents California's 18th Assembly district and has spent her career advocating for students and working families. Mia served as the CEO of Oakland Promise, a cradle-to-college and career preparation initiative across Oakland public schools. She also served on Alameda Unified School District School Board, including three years as Board President. Assemblymember Bonta is a proud Black Latina, who has fought hard for issues such as homelessness, affordable housing, transformative criminal justice reform, climate change and public education; and
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WHEREAS, District 1 honors Antonio and Yanira Aguilar, owners of Cassave Restaurant & Taqueria on San Pablo Avenue in North Oakland, who share their rich heritage and traditions through their food, are committed to a meaningful being part of the Oakland community, and whose story of Cassave Restaurant & Taqueria began when a Mexican restaurant owner married a Salvadorian restaurant owner and, after tying the knot, decided to combine the best of the authentic flavors of their respective homes; and
WHEREAS, District 2 recognizes Leslie Lopez, bom and raised in Oakland, is a first generation xicana, grafitera/muralist, activist, and mother of two. Leslie began painting murals and leading in community organizing as a pre-teen. Leslie’s passion for culture work and social justice activism began in the Fruitvale District and was fueled by the Eastside Arts Alliance and Xicana Moratorium Coalition. Leslie has painted several community murals, including murals supporting community healing efforts in District 2’s San Antonio neighborhood to address ongoing challenges of human trafficking and the commercial sexual exploitation of children, and led visual art projects throughout many Oakland neighborhoods. She uses art as a healing practice, bringing the community together at free events, as a way of giving back; and WHEREAS, in honor of the City of Oakland’s 2022 Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month Celebration, District 3 is proud to recognize A1 Osorio with the National Brown Berets for years of service to residents in support of victims of violence, distribution of covid kits and clothing to families of farmworkers and other charitable services. District 3 is grateful and humbled by their dedication and care to our community; and
WHEREAS, in honor of the City of Oakland’s 2022 Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month Celebration, District 4 is thrilled to recognize Melrose Neighborhood Council Chair Veronica Garcia for her service and commitment to the City of Oakland, including her work on park beautification, crime prevention, and habitat restoration which impacts thousands of families in Oakland; and
WHEREAS, District 5 recognizes the tireless efforts of the many volunteers, including Jose Mendoza, Ruben Alvarado Gallardo, Jose Cervantes, Ricardo Vindiola De Haro, Amador Angel Luna, who turn out every weekend, rain, or shine, to help to clean and beautify the district 5 neighborhoods. With the cooperation of our Public Works department, volunteers pick up trash, mattresses and other furniture, tires, and other debris, all of which has been dumped on our streets.
The work is grueling and hard, but the reward is a cleaner and safer Oakland and a stronger community. We salute the work of our volunteers during Hispanic month and all throughout the year; and
WHEREAS, District 6 is proud to nominate Caheri Gutierrez, a proud Oakland native and District 6 resident, who began her career in community organizing when she was just 9 years old.
Through her movement building and advocacy, she, along with other community members, successfully establish Think College Now Elementary to close the achievement gap for Black and Brown student while establishing a college-going culture. In addition, she has led violence prevention advocacy work in Washington D.C., has worked alongside Mayor Schaaf to inform her Education Policy, and was responsible for developing the equity-based community engagement infrastructure for the Oakland Promise. Today, she is the Senior Manager of Communications and External Relations with The Unity Council where she focuses on holistically advancing communities through affordable housing and development, small business support, employment services, COVID-19 relief, early childhood education, youth services, and resources for undocumented Californians; and
2 WHEREAS, District 7 is honoring Karely Ordaz, Chief of Staff with The Unity Council, who proudly represents her Mexican roots and her home of East Oakland. She was bom in Mexico and immigrated to the United States at the age of 4, settling in the supportive community of Fruitvale where her family thrived. Karely has executed high academic achievement securing a full-time scholarship to UC Berkeley where she received her BA in American Studies with a concentration in Environment, Policy, and Public Health in only 3 years. She would go on to receive her MA of Public Affairs from the Goldman School of Public Policy (GSPP). Karely served the City of Oakland extensively, working for Councilmember Noel Gallo for 6 years and Mayor Libby Schaaf, as a Special Assistant representing East Oakland, for 4 years. Since 2016 Karely has served on the Board of Supervisors for the East Oakland Boxing Association: a three decade-old institution supporting the development and wellness of Deep East Oakland’s youth and families. She is currently the only Latina serving the Oakland Police Commission. In her role as Chief of Staff with The Unity Council Karely focuses her efforts on strengthening the organization’s impact. Karely is passionate about increasing equity for financial resources, and quality education for low-income children, families, and immigrants of color; and WHEREAS, District 8 (At-Large) recognizes Daniela Medina is the Associate Director of Underground Scholars at University of California, Berkeley, a program that creates pathways for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals into higher education. Her commitment to social justice is motivated by her direct lived experience and love for her hometown of Oakland where she serves on the Executive Board for Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ), Community Works West, and the Neighborhood Opportunity & Accountability Board.
Daniela previously worked at Community & Youth Outreach managing program strategies to reduce gun violence in Oakland. She is a certified life coach and the co-founder and host of the Berkeley Underground Scholars podcast, On the Tier. She graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in Social Welfare followed by a Master’s in Social Work, both from the University of California, Berkeley. As a first-generation college student, she was a Latinx Center of Excellence scholar, a Perez Research Fellow, a recipient of the Dean’s Award for Social Justice, and the Women in California Leadership Award; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED: That the City of Oakland celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize the achievements and contributions of Oakland’s Hispanic American champions who have worked tirelessly for their communities and inspired others to achieve success through their selfless leadership.
OCT 0 4 2022PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
KALB, KAPLAN, REID, TAYLOR, THAO AND
PRESiDENTFORTUNATO BAS
AYES - FIFE,
NOES -hf
ABSENT^
ABSTENTION vgf
ATTEST:| ~ &JI/J
City Clerk and the Council of the
City of Oakland, California
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