Inspired by Jesus and fueled by the Spirit of God, we invite people to work together for Shalom (wholeness, justice, salvation and peace) in East Oakland.
About Us
We live in a fragmented world, a world in which we struggle to love one another. Far too often, there is no shalom. Despite the presence of beautiful and wonderful people, East Oakland is known for violence and death. A drive down the street or a glance at the newspaper remind us of shootings, prostitution, drugs and robberies. The litter on the sidewalk leaves no doubt of the alcohol and drug abuse prevalent all around us.
We work for Shalom in East Oakland. We dream of spiritual rebirth, racial reconciliation, financial freedom, family health and equipped and empowered local leaders. We all need a greater knowledge that we are loved and a greater ability to tangibly love one another in the real world. We find creative ways for diverse groups of people to work together for Shalom, across racial, cultural, geographical and class lines. We believe in the long hard work of Christian community development (see CCDA), working with local leaders and focusing on healthy long term solutions.
We believe in the potential of people to reimagine their lives in light of the Good News of Jesus. A new life is possible, starting right here and right now. The Kingdom of God is at hand. God's power, God's Spirit, is active and accessible. We can be transformed. No one is left out or unwelcome.
So, we host workshops and support groups to help people live the way Jesus talked about. Together we work on our finances, parenting skills and relational skills. We pray. We dream. We remind one another that there is hope. We host projects to work for Shalom together and learn to live a new way in the process. So we beautify our neighborhood and show people how to use computers. We work on resumes and fill out job applications together. We get excited about things like community gardens and block parties. At the end of the day, we hope to inspire and empower a new generation of local leaders who will grow up and take the lead in this movement.
What We Do
We come alongside people in East Oakland, particularly younger families with children, to work together for Shalom. We host dinners and meals to help people develop a sense of community across socio-economic boundaries. We are launching what we call a "Jesus Dojo" a collection of workshops, classes, projects and support groups to help people incorporate the teachings of Jesus into real life (family, parenting, finance, physical health, etc.). We are currently working towards opening an after school program for children that will provide academic, social and spiritual teaching and mentoring. This program will have at its core an internship program that disciples, trains and empowers younger leaders from East Oakland.
We come alongside people in East Oakland, particularly younger families with children, to work together for Shalom. We host dinners and meals to help people develop a sense of community across socio-economic boundaries. We are launching what we call a "Jesus Dojo" a collection of workshops, classes, projects and support groups to help people incorporate the teachings of Jesus into real life (family, parenting, finance, physical health, etc.). We are currently working towards opening an after school program for children that will provide academic, social and spiritual teaching and mentoring. This program will have at its core an internship program that disciples, trains and empowers younger leaders from East Oakland.
We are inspired by the opportunity to be disciples of Jesus and live a new life fueled by the power unleashed through Jesus. Jesus is the way to Shalom. Jesus taught us that the Kingdom of God is at hand, and God is at work renewing and repairing what is broken. We are humbled to be able to participate in what God is doing in the world.
Shalom of Oakland is a member organization of the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA), and we embrace their principles of Christian community development.
1. Church-based
2. Presence in the communty (Relocation)
3. Reconciliation
4. Listening to the community
5. Wholistic approach
6. Empowerment
7. Leadership Development
8. Redistribution
Where We Live And Work
We operate in the flatlands of East Oakland, along the Avenues between the 580 and 880 freeways. East Oakland is extremely diverse in terms of race, religion, social class and outlook on life. It is notorious for violence, crime, prostitution, illegal drugs, failing public schools and poverty. We choose to believe that all people were made in God's image, are loved dearly by their Creator and have many talents and abilities to contribute in the Kingdom of God.
Read more about East Oakland here. The Shalom Community Center is located near the Eastmont Mall on 75th and MacArthur, in what some call Deep East Oakland, .