Thank you to our supporters, donors, partners, and friends for joining us at a wonderful event celebrating positive transformation in challenging times!

The BOSS Sesa Woruban Celebration on Thursday October 7, 2010 was held at the First Unitarian Church of Oakland, and was attended by over 150 guests, many in colorful African dress for the culturally-themed celebration. The event brought together BOSS’s homeless program participants, staff, and Board Members with donors, volunteers, fellow social justice advocates and service providers, elected officials, and partners from the business and faith communities in a stirring celebration of what people are capable of -- every individual, and all of us working together. See pictures of the event here.

Guests were welcomed by honored emcee Arnold Perkins, Urban Habitat Board Member and former Director of Alameda County Health Services Agency, and were quickly introduced to some of the stars of the evening -- the BOSS Community Organizing Team (COT). This team, comprised of BOSS’s program participants with the support of staff, is devoted to identifying social justice policy issues they believe are important to organize around, and then planning and carrying out campaigns to effect change. In the process, team members—many of whom face varying degrees of disability and mental health diagnoses—find their own lives profoundly changed, as they experience the power of collective action and form new social bonds and community connections. BOSS believes this model is extremely important for the mental health field, demonstrating that, in boona’s words, “when people fully engage in social justice, they become well.” Team members spoke about what they learned over the past year, followed by a beautiful video created by staff team member and former BOSS participant, Janny Castillo.

Next on the program came Fua Dia Congo -- a historic local Congolese dance company that is in its second generation of family leadership, led by Muisi Malonga. Two drummers and four dancers, all in traditional dress, shared an exuberant, powerhouse performance that brought the entire audience to its feet with admiration, appreciation, and sheer joy.

Following the dancers, Arnold announced the winners of BOSS’s community-wide Transformation Writing Contest. BOSS had solicited any types of writing from throughout the community and within our programs on the subject of transformation. The winning authors read their submissions and were awarded prizes.

After the program, guests moved from the sanctuary to the dining room, where an amazing, multi-course African feast had been prepared and served buffet-style by BOSS Executive Director boona cheema, BOSS cook and trained chef Seth Sproge, and a team of participant and staff helpers.

During the dinner program, Arnold Perkins, along with boona and BOSS Board President Dan Scarola, presented special Transformation Awards to local leaders who have done incredible work to transform lives, policies, and systems, in order improve housing and health outcomes for people in need, and enhance the level of wellness and cooperation throughout our community. Recipients received a certificate from BOSS and a special collection of Transformation Series Art Cards donated by local artist Kay Kopit. Awards were presented to:

• Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services Agency, for transformative work through a series of initiatives with State Mental Health Act monies, designed to improve the mental health system and its impact on consumers.
• East Bay Community Law Center, for transformative work fighting for the legal, civil, and human rights of homeless and low income people, including recent partnership with BOSS to fight cuts in Alameda County General Assistance Program.
• EveryOne Home, for transformative work with its 15 Year Plan to end homelessness, and bold initiatives around ‘Rapid Re-Housing’ and fostering better cooperating among community stakeholders.
• Taproot Foundation, for transformative work across the country, bringing together pro bono business experts with the nonprofits who need their assistance.
• Phyllis Sakahara, for transformative work across BOSS, solidifying and documenting the agency’s Wellness and Empowerment Curriculum, and raising staff skills.
• BOSS Community Organizing Team, for transformative work in expanding the local social justice movement, increasing connections between BOSS and other advocates, and transforming their own lives in the process.

All awardees thanked BOSS for the honor, pledged their ongoing commitment to transformative change and ending homelessness no matter what challenges we face, and paid respects to BOSS for its leadership in the arena of social justice, and consistently and vocally engaging homeless people in social change. Together we can move mountains!

Throughout the evening, a very special Art Show and Sale was held in an adjacent room, with works by artists from within BOSS programs, both adults and children. The adult artists were on hand to talk about their own work -- Alan Kelchner, James Kitamirike, and Frank Knight. Proceeds from the sale were split between the artist and BOSS.

Finally, the fun and inspiring evening was closed by Dan Scarola, who thanked all the volunteers, participants, and staff who had a hand in putting on such a wonderful event, including our many generous sponsors (below*). Dan also invited everyone to leave whatever donation they were able to in the table centerpieces, to be collected by staff! Donations are still and always welcome—make one today.

***THANK YOU, BOSS SESA WORUBAN SPONSORS!

Media Sponsors: Oakland Magazine, Diablo Magazine 

Sponsors:

‘Fihankra’ level (safety/security in a home): Kaiser Permanente

‘Bi-nkabi’ level (unity, peace, and harmony): Mechanics Bank, The Cheema Family, Kate DeYoe, Susan & Stephen Shortell

‘Akoma’ level (patience and endurance): Glenn Clark, Roman Fan, Dan Scarola

‘Sankofa’ level (learning from the past): boona cheema, Cheryl Fragiadakis, Katharine Gale, CCI Computers