Barbara Lee and Jean Quan Cut Ribbon at SparkPoint Oakland Grand Re-Opening
East Bay Congresswoman Barbara Lee beamed with pride at United Way’s SparkPoint Oaklandgrand re-opening: “Good things are happening here in Oakland! People across the country ask me about economic empowerment and how to move people out of poverty. I’m proud of the fact that we’re doing that here. SparkPoint is paving the way to the American Dream.”
Congresswoman Lee was joined by Oakland Mayor Jean Quan; Oakland City Councilwoman Desley Brooks; SparkPoint clients, partners, and staff; financial stability partners Chevron and Wells Fargo; and numerous friends from the business and nonprofit community to cut the ribbon onSparkPoint Oakland’s new Eastmont Center location.
Hope, dreams, and inspiration were the themes of the afternoon.
Mayor Quan said, “We need to give people confidence and support to help them find their way out of poverty. This is a city of dreams, and for SparkPoint’s clients, we’re making that happen.”
SparkPoint client Laverne Oakley mirrored Quan’s remarks when she told her personal story about not being able to provide for her sons while she was unemployed. She said, “My life changed atSparkPoint where my financial coach gave me the inspiration and confidence to find a job.”
Oakley left the podium with tears in her eyes, moving the crowd. Joe Laymon, Chevron Vice-President of Human Resources, followed her and said, “Chevron sponsors SparkPoint for one reason and that’s people like you Laverne. You’re an inspiration, and I’m proud that we’re a part of it.” He then presented United Way of the Bay Area CEO Anne Wilson and SparkPoint Oakland Director Falope Fatunmise a giant check for $150,000.
The ceremony ended with the official ribbon-cutting and Congresswoman Lee’s lively speech. She ended things on a personal note with fond memories of the Eastmont Center as a place to go with her family when her kids were growing up. 20,000 people make their way to Eastmont every week, and many are low-income. Lee said she was glad that SparkPoint had re-located to a place that could really reach the people who need SparkPoint’s services the most.
SparkPoint Oakland is one of ten United Way SparkPoints around the Bay Area. Clients are teamed with financial coaches who help them get jobs, improve their credit, create a budget, start saving, and move toward financial stability. For more information about SparkPoint, go towww.sparkpointcenters.org.
To see this article in its original format, go HERE.