Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center Board of Directors
FOUNDING CHAIR
The Honorable Barbara Lee
CONGRESSWOMAN
9TH–CD California
PRESIDING CHAIR
Jesus Armas, President Armas Consulting Group
VICE-CHAIR
Debra Johnson, CEO, BDRD Properties and Investments
SECRETARY
Hilary R. Sledge, Associate, Bingham McCutchen LLP
TREASURER
Phyllis Jones
Doug Siden
Saundra Andrews
Miguel Bustos
Diann Castleberry
Garey Johnson
Roddrick Lee
Michael Lighty
Audrey Jones Taylor
David Tucker
Tim Williams
Bonnie Wheatley
Denise Youmans
Charlie Mae Davis
BOARD MEMBER EMERITUS
Dr. Clayborne S. Carson
(Ex-Officio)
DIRECTOR
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
PAPERS PROJECT
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
FOUNDER
Ira Jinkins
In 1987, East Oakland community activist Ira Jinkins planted a magnolia tree in San Leandro Shoreline Park in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1993 Jinkins' lone tree was expanded to an entire grove of trees and a native plant garden by the East Bay Regional Park District. The park was renamed Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Shoreline Park at that time.
Soon after, Jinkins, Congresswoman Barbara Lee and the
East Oakland community came together to discuss the creation of a regional
center dedicated to Dr. King’s ideals of non-violence, social change,
racial and economic justice, and a peaceful world.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Center was
born of their dreams and of a joint agreement between the City of Oakland,
the East Bay Regional Park District, the Port of Oakland, the California
State Costal Conservancy, the Martin Luther King, Jr. March & Rally
Committee and then State Assembly Member Barbara Lee.
The Freedom Center is located at the Peralta Community College District Office across the street from Laney College at 333 E 8th St.
As a center for nonviolence, equality, youth and ecology, the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center serves communities and organizations in the san Francisco Bay Area promoting these principles, and offers a safe environment where people can seek out peaceful, nonviolent solutions to the challenges we all face