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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS)

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Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS)

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BOSS is creating housing, reentry, and violence prevention solutions to end mass homelessness, mass incarceration, community violence, and systemic inequity.

https://linktr.ee/BOSSBayArea

Watch BOSS on PBS Visionaries: bit.ly/bossonvisionaries

10/23/2026

Thank you to everyone who filled the Huey P. Newton/Bobby Seale Student Lounge at Merritt College for Breaking Barriers 4.0. You brought questions, stories and lived experience into a room on a campus with deep roots in this community’s fight for justice. Many of you have walked through the justice system and come out the other side, and your voices shaped every conversation.

Our speakers met the moment. Councilmember Rowena Brown opened the day, and Richard Cruz of Reentry & Repair shared his remarks. Tinisch Hollins of Californians for Safety and Justice traced the road from criminal justice reform to shared safety. Danielle Motley of Black Women Organized for Political Action broke down state policy on reentry, and Councilmember Ken Houston joined us with remarks. Thida Uk, Rachell Romero and Shani Shay of Street Scholars showed how education opens doors after incarceration. Judge Michael Markman and Cory Jacobs presented the Pretrial Program report, and Precious Green of the League of Women Voters walked us through the pros and cons of the 2026 ballot measures.

Thank you to Time Done for access to Live Scans, to Merritt College for hosting us and serving lunch, and to every partner and sponsor at the resource fair.

The conversation kept coming back to one truth. Our communities are safer when people can find housing, build careers and go back to school, and policy shapes every one of those paths. Policy changes when we know it, talk about it and show up for it.

If you couldn’t be in the room, there’s still a seat for you in this work. Learn what’s on your ballot and vote by November 3. Share what you learn with someone who thinks their voice doesn’t count, because returning citizens on parole or probation can vote in California. Mobilizing to protect and advance progress starts now, and we want you with us. Stay tuned for the full recap.

Missed the registration deadline? You can register and vote on the same day through Election Day, Nov. 3, at any Alameda County voting location (California Secretary of State: sos.ca.gov). Check your registration at registertovote.ca.gov.

Next up: the BOSS Career & Wellness Resource Fair, Thursday, Oct. 29, 11:00 AM–3:00 PM, at Merritt College: bit.ly/bossjobfair.

Thank you to:
BWOPA OakBerk Chapter
Californians for Safety and Justice
Re-Entry Providers Association of California - REPAC
League of Women Voters of Oakland
Rowena Brown
City of Oakland - Local Government

10/21/2026

Since February, the Pretrial Expansion Program has met people as they leave Santa Rita Jail and connected them to housing, treatment, rides to court and a case manager who stays with them. According to the Alameda County Superior Court, the program connected nearly 800 people to services in its first six months, and rearrests among moderate-risk participants dropped from 43% to 18%.

County funding ends December 31. Here's how you can show up this week:
TODAY: Breaking Barriers 4.0 is happening now at Merritt College until 5 PM. Come learn more about pretrial services, hear from the people doing this work and get informed on what's at stake.

TOMORROW, Thursday, October 22: Join us at the Board of Supervisors' Public Protection Committee and speak up for the program during public comment. Every voice counts, and each speaker gets two minutes.

Watch the video, share it with your network, and stand with us for pretrial services.

10/21/2026

Today is the day. Breaking Barriers 4.0 starts at 2:00 PM at Merritt College in Oakland.

The first 20 people get a FREE Live Scan with Time Done, voter education from the League of Women Voters Oakland, and policy updates from Californians for Safety and Justice and Black Women Organized for Political Action.

A resource fair full of reentry partners runs all afternoon. This year’s theme is Mobilizing to Protect and Advance Progress, and we need every one of us to do that work. Lunch and networking start at 1:00 PM. RSVP using the link in the first comment, and bring a guest.

Breaking Barriers 4.0 | Today, Wednesday, Oct. 21 | Lunch and networking at 1:00 PM, program from 2:00 to 5:00 PM | Merritt College, Huey P. Newton/Bobby Seale Student Lounge, Building R, 12500 Campus Drive, Oakland, CA 94619 | RSVP: bit.ly/breakingbarriers40

BWOPA OakBerk Chapter
Californians for Safety and Justice
Re-Entry Providers Association of California - REPAC
League of Women Voters of Oakland
Rowena Brown
City of Oakland - Local Government

10/20/2026

Since February, the Pretrial Expansion Program has met people leaving Santa Rita Jail and connected them with a dedicated case manager, emergency housing, and treatment. According to the Alameda County Superior Court, the program connected nearly 800 people to services in its first six months, including 312 to outpatient substance use treatment and 208 to housing.

Rearrests among moderate-risk participants dropped from 43% to 18%.

The county contract ends December 31, and the Board of Supervisors is weighing whether to end the program or move it to Probation. We need your help.

JOIN US
When: Thursday, October 22. The meeting starts at 10:30 AM.
Where: Alameda County Administration Building, 1221 Oak Street, 5th Floor, Oakland
Join remotely: bit.ly/teamsforpretrial

CAN’T MAKE IT?
Send a written comment at bos.acgov.org/public-comments, and pass this email and the attached flyer to your congregation, colleagues, and neighbors.

Public Protection Committee | Thursday, Oct. 22 | 10:00 AM | Each speaker has 2 minutes for public comment. Can’t attend? Submit a written comment at [email protected]. Read more BOSS News in bio.

10/20/2026

BOSS is hiring for seven roles across Alameda County:

—Cook, Part-Time (Berkeley)
—Cook, Part-Time (Hayward)
—Housing Navigator (Oakland)
—IPS Employment Peer Support Specialist (Oakland)
—On Call Service Liaison (Alameda County)
—Overnight Monitoring, Service Liaison (Oakland)
—Site Coordinator Supervisor (Berkeley)

For more than 55 years, BOSS has worked alongside people facing homelessness, poverty and incarceration as they build stable lives. Our teams include people with lived experience, and we put that experience at the center of how we serve. See the full job descriptions and apply here: bossbayarea.org/jobs

10/18/2026

HOLIDAY DRIVE

The season of giving starts tomorrow.

Our Holiday Drive launches Monday, October 19, bringing meals, gifts and warmth to families and individuals across BOSS programs.

Adopt a family, organize a drive with your workplace or faith community, or give directly.

Want to start early? Reach out to Gwen Austin, BOSS Community Manager to claim a family or plan your drive.

Contact Gwen at [email protected] or join the work at self-sufficiency.org/donate. Giving Tuesday is December 1.

10/18/2026

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Together we can spread awareness, inspire action and support every survivor impacted by domestic violence. October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a reminder that early screening saves lives. This month, check in on the people you love, share these resources and make room for every survivor to be heard.

Support is available 24/7 through the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 1-800-799-7233. Free and low-cost breast cancer screenings are available through California's Every Woman Counts program, 1-800-511-2300.

10/16/2026

BREAKING BARRIERS 4.0 - comment "BB40" for the direct link.

Breaking Barriers 4.0 is FIVE DAYS away.

Every two years, we bring together people impacted by the justice system, crime survivors, advocates, and policymakers in one room to protect the reforms our community fought for and plan what comes next.

This year, you can also get free support to help clear your record, register to vote, and hear from the people shaping policy in Sacramento and Alameda County. It’s free. Wednesday, October 21, 2–5 PM at Merritt College.

RSVP: bit.ly/breakingbarriers40 | Merritt College, 12500 Campus Drive, Building R, Huey P. Newton/Bobby Seale Student Lounge, Oakland | Plenty of parking on campus.

10/16/2026

CAREER & WELLNESS RESOURCE FAIR | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29

Your next opportunity could be one conversation away.

Join BOSS at our Career & Wellness Resource Fair on Thursday, October 29 at Merritt College. Meet employers who are hiring now, including second chance employers and apprenticeship programs, and connect with wellness and community resources in the same room. Bring your resume or get help with one on site.

Know someone job hunting? Share this with them. Learn more: bit.ly/bossjobfair

10/14/2026

EARLY VOTING IS KEY!!

The deadline to register to vote in California's November 3 general election is Monday, October 19. If you've moved, changed your name or never registered, now is the time. Missed the deadline?

You can still register and vote in person at any vote center through Election Day. Decisions on this ballot shape housing, health care and public safety across Alameda County. Your voice belongs in them.

Check your registration or register in minutes at registertovote.ca.gov

Address

1918 University Avenue #2A
Berkeley, CA
94704

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+15106491930

Website

http://www.self-sufficiency.org/

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