If you live in the East Bay you have most likely heard about SoOakland and hopefully you have been to one of their events! Although the parties are fun, great crowd, vibe and music - SoOakland is about so much more than events. The SoOakland movement has been a leader in putting the positive aspects of Oakland and its community in the limelight. There is so much beauty, culture and tradition that often goes unnoticed. Shayla Jamerson, Founder of SoOakland, wanted to change that.
Dr. Akilah Cadet is the Founder of Change Cadet, a consulting company offering coaching, strategic planning, innovation, and diversity training for individuals or companies. Change Cadet came about after stress from her previous job caused severe depression. She realized that it’s imperative to spend time working in an environment where you feel valued and appreciated or it will negatively affect your personal life. She used this as a turning point and decided to start her own consulting company.
Abusive relationships began early in life for Yolanda beginning with her step-father and continuing down the dark road of abusive romantic relationships as an adult. Drinking, drugs, getting in trouble, getting involved with the wrong crowd, going to jail soon followed. “As a child I wanted to be a news broadcaster. I would have never imagined where I ended up. I did so much damage. My mom would come looking for me and I’d hide in the closet because I didn’t want her to see me in that condition.”
Life is fragile and can change on a dime. Things we once thought were important can quickly take a back seat when crisis hits and we learn our life purpose. “I used to have the ‘I worked for it, I deserve it mentality” says Sarah Tiffany Richardson-Baker. Making money and providing for her family was never an issue. Then in 2013, a rare form of blood cancer turned their lives upside down. Almost instantly, Sarah went from working full time in Politics and Education being able to provide for her family, to zero income. Within 12 days of diagnosis, she was on chemo. $1200 chemo pills! No income due to health issues + $1200 chemo pills. Wow.
