BCZ Community Development Corporation

The Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 84-3885205) established in 2019. We lead community-driven projects that empower Black residents, culture, and businesses to thrive, particularly in East Oakland. We innovate, incubate, inform, and elevate to create spaces where Black life and culture flourish.

We focus on serving current and legacy East Oakland residents, artists, entrepreneurs, and organizations while benefiting the broader Oakland community. Our work addresses the lasting impact of disinvestment, displacement, and economic inequity by tackling barriers to wealth, ownership, and opportunity.

OUR PURPOSE

The purpose of the Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation, a California nonprofit corporation founded in 2019, is to “innovate, incubate, inform and elevate community driven projects that allow our people and culture to “THRIVE”.

Innovate

To make changes in something established, especially by introducing new methods, ideas, or products.

Incubate

To maintain at optimal environmental conditions for growth and development.

Inform

To communicate knowledge.

Elevate

To lift something up, to promote, or to boost.

We work on behalf of and with the Black Community with a focus on current and legacy East Oakland residents, businesses, entrepreneurs, organizations and artists. Our work, however, is of benefit to the larger Oakland community particularly those most at risk of displacement here in Oakland. The barrier we face is the rising cost of living amidst stagnant or declining community wealth for legacy and current community members. The barriers to wealth building are tied to disproportionate levels of high unemployment, high underemployment, low business ownership and limited economic opportunity. This suppression reflects decades of public/private disinvestment and other systemic and institutional barriers.

OUR VISION

A robust and vibrant renaissance in legacy Black communities; vibrant, thriving Black Arts, Cultural and Commercial areas in a thriving economy; an ecosystem anchored by Black Arts, Culture and Commerce; and collective power that assures our inalienable human right to love, health, wellness, belonging, power, safety and self- determination.

Our Mission

The mission of the Black Cultural Zone CDC is to unapologetically center Black arts, culture and economics as we collectively design, resource, transform and build collective power for our communities.

Commercial Development

Black Cultural Hub

Our Black Cultural hub Model will elevate Black Arts/Culture, Building, Community Wealth, Quality of Life and Community Healing within community cultural facilities. We are working with the East Oakland Black Cultural Zone Collaborative, Allies and Supporters to build a model which will include community investment, cooperative ownership and collective management.

Commercial Corridor Hub

We seek site control of commercial real estate assets on major commercial corridors in the heart of East Oakland for indoor and outdoor Black Cultural Hubs.

Liberation Park

A 54,000 square foot lot in the heart of East Oakland is a site we are seeking site control to develop a mixed use commercial, cultural and community Black Cultural Zone Hub. Currently we utilize Liberation Park as a Resource Hub for Community Rapid Response including COVID19 Relief Programs, Community Events and Pop Ups and the AKOMA Outdoor Market. Our goal is to activate Liberation Park for Community, Commercial and Cultural Events in the interim as we seek permanent site control and the development of the permanent Hub. Support This Effort – Do The Right Thing Campaign.

Commercial and Community Space

Activation

We seek to activate public and private spaces throughout East Oakland where Black people can connect, converse, collaborate and cooperate for collective action. Building out this model of space activation in East Oakland will allow us to deepen the network of supportive Black spaces in the Black Cultural Zone.

Black Cultural Commercial Corridors

We seek to develop commercial corridors in legacy Black communities, like East Oakland, which highlight our culture, and our commerce and support a strong Black economy.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

We must develop an economy where our dollars and resources circulate longer within our community and generate more investment into our community. This shift will create space where our people are able to start and grow their businesses and/or have access to economically sustainable and non-extractive workforce and career opportunities. We are anchoring this economic development goal with a range of programs and initiatives.

COWRIE Currency Collective

Black Economy Network

Black Business Briefcase

AKOMA Outdoor Market

Business Anti-Displacement

Workforce and Career Development

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

The long-term impact of the CDC’s Vision and Mission is the disruption of the community & economic development model where only limited benefits have accrued to the most vulnerable communities in our country, particularly legacy Black communities like East Oakland. As a Member: Partner and lead facilitator for the East Oakland Black Cultural Zone Collaborative, we will support the collective generation, within the East Oakland Black Cultural Zone, of:

01.

Ten or more Catalyst Hubs anchoring neighborhoods where there are no unsheltered residents.

02.

A mix of housing types for a range of income levels.

03.

A thriving Black arts scene anchored by restaurants, retailers & service providers. There will be a network of health, wellness, education & other support for a quality life.

04.

Hubs anchored in a Community Trust for generations to come.

05.

A strong economy where entrepreneurs & business owners thrive as the dollar circulates here for increasingly longer periods of time and local employment opportunities for residents.

06.

A zone with cooperatively owned businesses & housing where the employees & residents have a stake.

07.

A neighborhood where you will see business owners, artists, entrepreneurs, teachers, professionals, & first responders who live here.

08.

A Zone where we will connect with our Indigenous, Latinx, & other cultural communities to build coalitions where we can thrive – together. It will be a community where all have a vested interest.

Community Ambassadors: Block by Block

Tour the Zone

Explore

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SOME OF OUR BCZ TEAM

Ahira Foster, Communications Coordinator

Allen Whitfield, Safety Ambassador Lead
Amore Love, Coordinator, Initiatives and Programs
Ann Luckett-James, Project Assistant

Anthony Johnson, Event Crew Lead
Ari Curry, Associate Manager, Marketing and Communications
Arika Sweeting, Portfolio Manager, Community Engagement
Bryan Mapenzi, Associate Manager, Thrive Coaching
Caniya Johnson, Brand Activation and Partnerships Manager

Carole Johnson, Retail and Hub Assistant
Carolyn Johnson, Chief Executive Officer
Charlay King, Coordinator, Community Engagement
Cierra Brown, Retail and Hub Assistant

Damont Miller, Safety Ambassador Lead
Dejah Younger, Associate Program Manager

Derek Fletcher, Director of Strategic Initiatives

Elena Olzark, Financial Controller

Emilie Grandchamp, Coordinator, Signature Events

Erin Dixon, Safety Ambassador Lead

Fethia Kedir, Senior Real Estate Accountant

Glora Crowell, Community Outreach and Organizing Steward
Guillermo Carrillo, Associate Manager, Data and Evaluation
Jalen Leathers, Associate, Facilities

James Gibson, Facilities Manager

Jessica Passion, HR and Operations Coordinator

Jonathan Lacey, Safety Ambassador Lead
Jorge Pena Flores, Coordinator, Hub Management
Kahnetah Thomas, Associate, Hub Experience
Lanetha Oliver, Chief Operating Officer

Lynn Davis, Coordinator, Community Stewards

Marian Johnson, Senior Manager, Organizational Effectiveness & Strategic Operations
Michael Gaston, Chief Financial Officer

Michael Joyner, Safety Ambassador Lead
Millet Reyes, Coordinator, Finance

Musa Bey, Assistant, IT
Nina Young, Finance and Shared Services Assistant
Patrice Bolton-Johnson, Coordinator, Fund Development, Marketing and Communication Initiatives
Patrice Byers, Human Resources & Operations Manager

Patrick Taylor, Coordinator, IT
Princeton Maharam, Coordinator, Community Life
Regina Davis, Senior Strategic Advisor, Commercial Development
Satina Dunigan, Manager, Hub Experience & Commercial Systems

Sharonida Singletary, Human Resource and Payroll Specialist

Shelkesha Green, Associate, Hub Experience

Shemika Lilly, Senior Program Manager
Sienna Fatuesi, Manager, Programs

Taylor Melendy, Safety Ambassador Lead

Thomas Harris, Safety Ambassador Lead
Vincent Johnson, Specialist Safety Ambassador/Dispatch

Yvette Balderas, Safety Ambassador Lead

Our Story in Numbers

Community Stewards

17,000 +

Reached through BCZ’s Community Stewards program, with $800,000+ paid to 160+ stewards (July 2024–June 2025).

Source: CD_Stewards_001

Businesses Support

300 +

Businesses engaged across BCZ programs, with direct navigation support provided through Biz Nav.

Source: [insert source]

Collaborative Network

168

Partners in the BCZ Collaborative, including 106 General Assembly members working together for community impact.

Source: Causeway

Overall Impact

$800,000 +

Invested directly into East Oakland through stewards, businesses, and collaborative partnerships.

Sources: CD_Stewards_001, Causeway

Real Estate

Key efforts include:

Commercial Corridor Hubs: Securing and activating commercial real estate in East Oakland to create vibrant indoor and outdoor cultural spaces.

Liberation Park: A 54,000 sq. ft. lot serving as a resource hub for rapid response, community events, and the Akoma Outdoor Market—while advancing plans for a permanent mixed-use cultural and community space.

Space Activation: Transforming public and private spaces across East Oakland into places for connection, collaboration, and collective action.

Black Cultural Corridors: Developing commercial corridors in legacy Black communities that celebrate culture, commerce, and a strong Black economy.