The Fault Lines Project

The Fault Lines Project is about the many people who live with violence in Oakland. They are from every walk of life - children, adults, drug addicts, drug dealers, police officers, case workers, parolees, bus drivers, teachers - All have to live with the reality that Oakland is still perceived to be one of the most violent cities in the country, and still it is home. This project aims to give voice to those people, and start a dialogue across the fault lines of this divisive issue.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Voices from the Fault Lines: Community Leader Jakada Imani

For our Fault Lines Project, we want to share "voices" with you that represent the various perspectives on the issue of solutions to violence in Oakland.

Jakada Imani is the executive director of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, an organization that sponsors job training programs for Oakland's youth, and began by decrying police brutality. Imani is featured in many of the pieces that comprise the Fault Lines series. He was born and raised in East Oakland, and shares how he witnessed crack cocaine and the war on drugs transform his Oakland, something that motivated him to become an activist in his community.