Strengthening Community Organizing for Youth & Families
Effective community organizing and strong movement infrastructure remain foundational elements to building power over time. Akonadi Foundation is committed to revitalizing community organizing in historically marginalized communities across Oakland and Alameda County to catalyze a movement towards systemic change. That’s why we invest in organizations building grassroots leadership, expanding their base, and driving long-term systems change in youth justice, education, and other critical areas impacting the well-being of young people and their families.
Our grantmaking supports organizations with clear, strategic campaigns that mobilize community members, advance meaningful policy change, and build sustained power.
Through funding, convening, and collaboration, we aim to:
- Grow grassroots leadership and expand organizing capacity
- Strengthen pathways for community-led decision-making and power-building
- Advance innovative campaigns that secure lasting change
- Ensure elected officials are accountable to community priorities
By investing in deep, sustained organizing, we hope to see communities in Oakland that have the tools to build durable power and shape a more just future where all young people and families can thrive.
Perspectives
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Building Power, Centering Community, and Sustaining Change
By Geraldine Alcid, Executive Director at Filipino Advocates for Justice For over 50 years, Filipino Advocates for Justice (FAJ) has been at the heart of organizing in the…
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Building Power, Hope, and Belonging in Oakland’s Chinatown
By Kenneth Tang, Oakland Organizing Director, Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) At Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN), our roots run deep in the Bay Area. We started organizing…
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CURYJ’s George Galvis Unlocks Youth Power building for Abolition
For the latest feature in our All In For Oakland blog series, I had the opportunity to speak with George Galvis, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Communities United…
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UPM’s Nicole Lee Reimagines Community Safety in Oakland
Our President Ray Colmenar spoke with UPM’s Executive Director Nicole Lee about reimagining community safety in Oakland through youth-led movements. This year, we are spotlighting leaders from our…
