Port of Oakland - Newsroom

Who: Port of Oakland
What: Grand Opening of the Port's East Oakland Information Center
Where: Eastmont Town Center #262 (second floor), 7200 Bancroft Avenue, Oakland
When: Thursday, March 15, 2001, 4:30pm - 7:00pm
Why: To introduce the new center to the public.

The Port of Oakland is officially opening the doors of its East Oakland Information Center, Thursday March 15, 2001 from 4:30-7:30 pm. This is the second of two community-based centers the Port has established in Oakland. This new center promises to be a vital link for access to Port generated jobs and apprenticeship programs in the construction trades.
The service provided is free and job seekers can apply for work at the site.

"The goal of the Good Neighbor Program is to be the best neighbor we can be, stated Harold Jones, the Port's Communications Director. Jones added, "The Port is pursuing this goal through a policy of listening to the community, informing our neighbors about our activities, involving the community in our planning process and providing resources in support of neighborhood programs that create benefits and value to local residents. This new facility is our open door to the community."

The Center will be staffed by representatives from the port's Community Affairs Department and Employment Resources Development Program, along with a part-time representative from the City of Oakland's Apprenticeship Program.

The Port's East Oakland Information Center will be staffed two days a week-Tuesdays and Wednesdays-from 9am-5pm. Appointments can be made for Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. The Center will serve East Oakland and the greater Oakland community. The facility is a significant symbol of the Port's growing community involvement, which is part of the Port's overall mission.

"Our mission at the Port is to invest our resources in quality facilities and services, for our airport, real estate and seaport tenants and customers," stated Chuck Foster, Port of Oakland's Executive Director. Foster explained, "It is through their activities that we create economic vitality, jobs and waterfront enjoyment for Oakland and the region. At the same time the Port generates earnings to reinvest in our activities."

The new center is helping bring to fruition the Port's commitment to its Good Neighbor program. This facility will provide a place where the community can easily access the port of Oakland for resources and information about employment, business, and activities at the Port.

The East Oakland Information Center, with its job referral service, creates a win-win for local job seekers and Port tenants that are looking to hire. Because of the proximity to Oakland International Airport, the East Oakland Information Center will focus on aviation employment.

The Port of Oakland wants the new center to reflect the community. One wall of the new facility will be left blank for a mural by a local artist. The Port will offer more details in the near future about its "Community Artist Competition for Mural Design" coming spring 2001. The purpose of the contest will be to choose an artist to design and paint a mural that reflects the Port of Oakland not only as a global gateway, but also as a link to our thriving and internationally diverse community. Another wall of the center will offer space to local artists to display their work on a rotating basis.

"The Port is committed to helping make our neighborhood a better place to live and work," said Monica Tell, Community Affairs Representative and field office co-ordinator for the new center. Tell added, "We are happy to be here, our doors are open, come by and see us."


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