August 2024 Speaker Meeting

Housing For All / Housing As A Human Right

Ending Mass Incarceration and Creating Re-Entry Options

Photo of a smiling Xavier Johnson from the Justice in the City Institute, wearing purple T-shirt. Smiling with short-cropped curly dark hair, mustache and beard.Our featured speaker this month was Xavier Johnson, Director of Policy Justice for the Just Cities Institute, along with a speaker from All of Us or None, a project founded and led by formerly incarcerated advocates.

Johnson (left) is a former tenants attorney with Centro Legal in Oakland, Chair of the Berkeley Housing Advisory Commission, and elected Commissioner on the Berkeley Rent Board.

This meeting was entirely virtual, on Zoom, a recording is below.


Also on this meeting's agenda:

    • Planning our booth at the annual Solano Stroll street fair in North Berkeley on Sunday, September 8

      Robert and Raines are coordinating, and we've got a great location at the Top of Solano! We're planning lots of fun activities with partners. Learn more and sign up to be a part of our presence there.big colorful rounded fun letters:Solano Avenue Stroll

    • Our September social: new host? Or cancel for this month?

      Neither Betsy or Carol or Raines can make the usual second-Wednesdays date, but we may have someone else to lead it.

    • The California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA) Candidate Forum Tuesday, September 10 (virtual and in-person). Learn more and RSVP here.

      California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA) logo
  • A just-scheduled in-person talk Wednesday morning, September 11, by Alameda County D.A. Pamela Price, on Fraud and Elder Abuse. Location TBD.

  • Nominations for the Gray Panthers of Berkeley and the East Bay Board of Directors are now open!

    The Board will present a slate at our September meeting, but nominations remain open for all voting members until the elections in October.

    If interested or curious, please contact Co-convenors Carol Crooks or Betsy Morris to learn more or join us for a Board Meeting (we are seeking a Board Secretary).

    Board members serve for two-year terms.

  • There will be time also for action updates and announcements.