APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
________________________
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. _______________ C.M.S.
INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBERS CARROLL FIFE AND TREVA REID
RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE OF ALAN DWAYNE BLUEFORD
AND DECLARING MAY 6TH AS "ALAN BLUEFORD DAY" IN THE CITY OF OAKLAND; AND RECOGNIZING THE ALAN BLUEFORD
FOUNDATION FOR TWELVE YEARS OF DEDICATED EFFORTS TO
ADVANCE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES IN OAKLAND COMMUNITIES
WHEREAS, Alan Dwayne Blueford was born on December 20, 1993 , and was the youngest of five siblings; and
WHEREAS, on May 6, 2012, when he was just an 18-year-old high school senior, Alan was shot and killed by a former Oakland police officer; and
WHEREAS, in 2013, following the tragic loss of their son, Jeralynn and Adam Blueford, created The Alan Blueford Foundation (Foundation) with a mission to serve as an accessible community resource that provides a comprehensive spectrum of social services to families in need; and
WHEREAS, the Foundation and Alan Blueford Center for Justice honors Alan by creating a safe space for Oakland residents, and impacted family members who are experiencing ment al health challenges due to loss or trauma and assists those suffering with mental health challenge s through non-clinical tools, resources, and outreach programs; and
WHEREAS, the Foundation is dedicated to addressing the traumatic effects of mental health crises that caused Alan Blueford and many others to have their lives stolen due to the lack of access to behavioral health care; and
WHEREAS, the Foundation seeks to fill t he gaping void left by a broken economy, and broken government institutions tasked with social welfare: ones that have left countless children feeling as if they have no future, countless parents feeling that they have no support and countless families locked in a cycle of violence, loss, and despair; and
WHEREAS, dedicated to promoting the human rights of persons with mental health disorders and to reduce stigma and discrimination , the Foundation works to change the major
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structural and other barriers to achieve positive mental health outcomes through supporting services and advocacy to local leaders to prioritize mental health, providing non -clinical counseling and support groups, share resources and outreach information to assist with mental health care; and
WHEREAS, Mental Health Awareness Month has been obser ved in May in t he United States since 1949 to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and wellness and honoring the life of Alan Dwayne Blueford in the month of May is important to advancing the critical work of the Foundation in our communities; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That the City Council hereby declares May 6th as "Alan Blueford Day" in the City of Oakland to honor and recognize the life of Alan Blueford; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED: That the City Council recognizes The Alan Blueford Foundation for 12 years of dedicated work to address the challenges around mental health issues and their commitment to expanding access to care.
IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES - FIFE, GALLO, JENKINS, KALB, KAPLAN, RAMACHANDRAN, REID, AND
PRESIDENT FORTUNATO BAS
NOES –
ABSENT –
ABSTENTION –
ATTEST:
ASHA REED
City Clerk and Clerk of the Council of the
City of Oakland, California