Ella Baker Center

Ella Baker Center Ella Baker Center is named for an unsung civil rights hero who inspired and guided emerging leaders. Thank you for your patience.
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We live her legacy by advancing racial and economic justice to ensure dignity and opportunity for low-income people and people of color. We believe that every person has the right to safety, to dignity, to equality, and to self-determination. Our work aims to defend and advance these rights in the United States. For almost 18 years, we have formed unlikely coalitions and won positive change that b

reaks the cycle of disinvestment and incarceration in communities of color. Among our successes, we have:

- Closed 5 of 8 abusive youth prisons in California and reduced prison populations by 80%
- Built California’s first statewide network for families of incarcerated youth to advocate for change
- Partnered with the California Teachers Association to defeat the “dumb on crime” Proposition 6
- Jump started the green collar jobs movement and passed the federal 2007 Green Jobs Act

Now we’re bringing all our past experience and success to bear on one of the most urgent issues of our time: mass incarceration.

* Due to COVID-19 our staff is working from home and are not accessing the office phone-line. If you need to get a hold of us please send us a message and someone will get back to you.

September 16th we’re going UP! 🤎💫 Please join us for our 30th anniversary celebration as we celebrate the organizers, ar...
08/18/2026

September 16th we’re going UP! 🤎💫

Please join us for our 30th anniversary celebration as we celebrate the organizers, artists, advocates, partners, supporters, and community members who have helped shape this movement.
Expect an evening filled with food, music, art, dancing, storytelling, and joy as we honor our legacy and the work still ahead.

🗓 September 16, 2026 | 6pm
📍 Oakstop, Oakland
🎟 Get tickets: bit.ly/EBC30AC

*Discounted ticket option available for our community members please DM us to inquire

We pulled up DEEP to the Capitol ✊🏾🏛️ Swipe through for a quick recap of our Lobby Day!We kicked off the day hearing fro...
08/05/2026

We pulled up DEEP to the Capitol ✊🏾🏛️ Swipe through for a quick recap of our Lobby Day!

We kicked off the day hearing from Assemblymember Ash Kalra (author of the Racial Justice Act), before meeting with legislators to advocate for policies that move us toward a more just California. Together, we brought up bills that protect access to lifesaving care, address sexual assault in correctional facilities and advance dignity & justice for our communities.
Wanna learn more about these bills? Head over to: ellabakercenter.org/policy/

One of the most powerful moments of the day was hearing directly from our Inside Fellows, Trinia and Jeremy. We are so thankful for their leadership.

Today was a long day but it was filled with so much purpose. Huge thank you to everyone who showed up! We are so so grateful for this community and for every opportunity to make our voices heard!!! 🗣️🫂

After 28 years, Mara is finally home 🧡Celebrate the homecoming of former 2022 Ella Baker Center Inside Fellow Mara, who ...
07/28/2026

After 28 years, Mara is finally home 🧡

Celebrate the homecoming of former 2022 Ella Baker Center Inside Fellow Mara, who has been granted parole after nearly three decades of incarceration. This moment didn't happen overnight. It reflects years of persistence, advocacy and collective care. We're especially grateful to our Liberation Lawyer, Claudia, whose supported Mara's return home.

As Mara begins this new chapter, let's continue showing up! If you're able, please support her GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/8652ca1f8

Welcome home, Mara!!!

This celebration belongs to ALL of us 💛 🫂 For 30 years, the Ella Baker Center has been rooted in community and rising to...
07/23/2026

This celebration belongs to ALL of us 💛 🫂

For 30 years, the Ella Baker Center has been rooted in community and rising toward a future where everyone can thrive!

Please join us as we celebrate the organizers, artists, advocates, partners, supporters, and community members who have helped shape this movement.
Expect an evening filled with food, music, art, dancing, storytelling, and joy as we honor our legacy and the work still ahead.

🗓 September 16, 2026 | 6pm
📍 Oakstop, Oakland
🎟 Get tickets: bit.ly/EBC30AC

The fight for the Racial Justice Act has never been easy. Our community has worked tirelessly for years to create and st...
07/17/2026

The fight for the Racial Justice Act has never been easy. Our community has worked tirelessly for years to create and strengthen California's most powerful tool for confronting racism in the criminal legal system. This year, despite strong support, AB 1958 by Assemblymember Ash Kalra fell short of the votes needed to advance after intense opposition from the law enforcement lobby.

AB 1958 would have made important technical amendments to the RJA to ensure clear standards and a smoother process for those bringing data-based charging and sentencing disparities claims under the law. It would have also reminded the courts that plea negotiations are covered by the RJA and made it clear that prosecutors have a duty to disclose evidence related to an RJA claim, including evidence possessed by law enforcement.

While this bill did not move forward, our commitment to the Racial Justice Act remains unwavering. 📣 The RJA was created to provide a pathway for people to challenge racial discrimination in California's criminal legal system. The law is already changing lives and the landscape of our criminal legal system. We will continue working to make sure it functions as intended for those seeking relief from racism and bias in their convictions and sentences.

We're deeply grateful to our co-sponsors, advocates, public defenders, community partners, and especially the people inside who have bravely brought RJA claims—who have shared their victories and helped identify challenges in implementation. 🫂 🤎 The leadership of those most impacted by the harm of racism continues to shape this work.

The fight doesn't end here!!! We will continue educating people inside about their rights under the RJA, supporting efforts to strengthen implementation, and protecting pathways to freedom for those who have experienced racial discrimination in our courts. The Racial Justice Act exists because people dared to challenge a system that told them racism was unavoidable. We owe it to them to keep pushing forward.

We stand with Baby Kohen’s family and our Mississippi community in their continued call for justice.📣Join the national b...
07/16/2026

We stand with Baby Kohen’s family and our Mississippi community in their continued call for justice.

📣Join the national boycott of Walmart on July 17 as we demand truth, transparency, and accountability!!!

Join the Ella Baker Center and the Asian Prisoner Support Committee for a day of community, friendly competition, and co...
07/11/2026

Join the Ella Baker Center and the Asian Prisoner Support Committee for a day of community, friendly competition, and collective care.

Come cheer us on, play, connect with folks, enjoy BBQ and help support two organizations working toward a future rooted in justice!

📅 Saturday, July 11
🕚 11 AM–4 PM
📍 Montclair Park 6300 Moraga Ave, Oakland

07/08/2026

Join us tonight for our Movement Builders Circle (fka Membership Meeting)! ✊🏾

If you've been looking for a way to get more involved with the Ella Baker Center, this is the perfect place to start. Come connect with our members, build community, and hear about what's ahead:

⚡ Upcoming Lobby Day
⚡ Ways you can take action alongside us
⚡ and more!

Whether you're a longtime member or joining us for the first time, we'd love to have you in the room. See you tonight! 💛

🗓️: July 8th, 2026
⏱️: 6 – 8PM
📍: 1419 34th Ave. Oakland, CA

07/08/2026

Get into this people power & join us tonight for our Movement Builders Circle (fka Membership Meeting)! ✊🏾

If you’ve been looking for a way to get more involved with the Ella Baker Center, this is the perfect place to start. Come connect with our members, build community, and hear about what’s ahead:

⚡ Upcoming Lobby Day
⚡ Ways you can take action alongside us
⚡ and more!

Whether you’re a longtime member or joining us for the first time, we’d love to have you in the room. See you tonight! 💛

🗓️: July 8th, 2026
⏱️: 6 – 8PM
📍: 1419 34th Ave. Oakland, CA

We've been sitting with the heartbreaking news of Baby Kohen Wiley for some time now and our hearts are with Kohen's fam...
07/06/2026

We've been sitting with the heartbreaking news of Baby Kohen Wiley for some time now and our hearts are with Kohen's family, loved ones, and the entire Mississippi community as they continue to navigate this devastating tragedy.
No family should ever have to endure this kind of pain!

We stand in solidarity with the community's call to boycott Walmart and with everyone demanding accountability, justice, and a future where Black children are protected, valued, and supported. Baby Kohen should be here today.

Rest in Power Kohen Wiley 🕊️ 🧡

Address

1419 34th Avenue
Oakland, CA
94601

Opening Hours

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

Telephone

+15104283939

Website

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