Oakland has experienced high rates of displacement and gentrification of Black neighborhoods, and deep East Oakland is where the largest population of Black residents reside.
East Oakland Collective (EOC) is a member-based community organization, which is part of a consortium of more than 25 agencies called Frontline Healers, which serves communities of deep East Oakland by working towards racial and economic equity.
“Prior to COVID-19 we were already a front line rapid response agency, providing food, supplies and advocacy primarily in East Oakland,” said EOC Founder and Executive Director Candice Elder.
“COVID-19 changed that paradigm, so we started over with one restaurant making donations — Aburaya, Japanese Fried Chicken — then more restaurants starting donating until EOC was invited to pick up food from the Community Food Kitchen program started by Lucas Tap Room.
EOC has expanded its service base and now serves people with compromised immune systems, low-income families of color and seniors.
