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The Oakland Citizens Committee for Urban Renewal (OCCUR) was founded in 1954 to address Oakland's transition to an ethnically and economically diverse community. The organization's initial focus was the redevelopment of inner-city neighborhoods through the use of federal funds. While the founding members of OCCUR were primarily concerned with business interests, the organization now reflects the interests of Oakland's low- and moderate-income communities.
OCCUR provides technical assistance, nonprofit training, program/project monitoring, group facilitation and Board Committee development training to community groups that work in the areas of affordable housing, arts and culture and consumer education. With funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, OCCUR provides technical assistance to Oakland's seven community development districts (Central East Oakland, Chinatown and Central, Elmhurst, Fruitvale, North Oakland, San Antonio and West Oakland). OCCUR advises these districts on proposal writing, organizational training and development, affordable housing promotion and community equity participation. OCCUR also partnered with several local, community organizations to create the Eastmont Computing Center, a community center that provides free computer and internet access to residents of East Oakland, employment training and career services for youth. The center also sponsors YouthLink, a school-to-career program for at-risk youth that integrates adult mentoring and at-risk youth programming with practical, hands-on technical training and work experience.
Outcomes and Significant Accomplishments OCCUR holds an annual Non-profit Management and Fundraising Workshop attended by over 250 organizations. It has also developed a series of neighborhood profiles as key instruments for land use, demographics, socioeconomic and mapping analysis of each of Oakland's seven community development districts.
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