Good Neighbors
Good Neighbor Policy
Listen, Educate and Involve
To build true partnerships in the community, we must consider the concerns and needs of our neighbors. To help us do this, we adopted a Good Neighbor Policy in 1999. The policy statement says, "The Port of Oakland is committed to being a good neighbor. We strive to listen, educate and involve the community in our planning process." The Port of Oakland provides resources that create benefits and value to the community. The Port is working with communities to make our neighborhoods a better and safer place in which to live and work.

There are many ways in which we serve the community and fulfill our role as good neighbors. For example:

• Port employees raised over $50,000 to provide scholarships that will help Oakland high school students attend colleges and vocational schools.
• The Port is currently constructing the new 37 + acre Middle Harbor Shoreline Park, which is set to open in 2002 and serve thousands of local residents and visitors annually.
• Each year, approximately 30 Port of Oakland volunteers provide classroom support in local public schools.
• The Port contributes $1.5 million each year to the City of Oakland for the maintenance of Lake Merritt, which provides enjoyment to thousands of visitors and Oakland residents.
• This year, Port employees raised an overwhelming $116,698 for the Port's Annual Giving Campaign, benefiting many charities with much needed funding.

Information Centers
We encourage you to come see us at our West and East Oakland Information Centers. Our Community Relations Representatives will provide you with helpful information on our recent programs and projects. Our 360 Access Program (formerly ERDP) representative will provide job referral opportunities.

The West Oakland office is located at 1448 - 32nd Street at the corner of 32nd and Peralta Streets, adjacent to the Poplar Park Recreation Center. Please contact Community Relations Representative Janice Adam for more information on current projects and programs.

Our East Oakland office is located at Eastmont Town Center at 7200 Bancroft Avenue, Suite 262. Please contact Community Relations Representative Monica Tell for more information on current projects and programs.

Adopt-A-School
We are currently supporting teachers in their classrooms through reading and other curriculum activities. Each year, approximately 30 volunteers serve seven adopted West Oakland public schools. These schools also participate in the Port's summer harbor tours and our program for obsolete/surplus equipment.

In school year 2001-02, the Port has expanded this program by partnering with the Oakland Unified School District's Heroes Program initiative. This partnership provides us with more opportunities to link schools with educational programs on our operations, especially maritime and with philanthropic activities.

Coastal Clean Up
Each year, Port of Oakland employees along with neighboring residents and businesses participate in California's Coastal Cleanup Day. As the caretakers of the Oakland waterfront, we know how important it is to keep our waterways clean of debris.

We pick up recycling and trash along the estuary and the Bay Area coastline.

The next annual statewide Coastal Cleanup Day is on Saturday, September 21, 2002. This activity is organized by the California Coastal Commission's Adopt-A-Beach Program (www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/aab/aab1.html) and supporting organizations throughout the state.

View details about the 2004 Coastal Cleanup.