Events › What’s Work Got to Do with It? The State of Black Labor, Then & Now

Join us for a robust discussion of the historical and contemporary challenges of Black labor in America, with highlights from the personal and professional experiences of the panelists.

Darlene Flynn of the City of Oakland’s Race & Equity Department, Danielle Mahones of the U.C. Berkeley's Labor Center, and Saabir Lockett of the East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy will look at:

• Employment and housing trends through an equity justice lens

• The history and current events of organized labor among Black workers

• Impacts of incarceration on Black employment and the work being done to knock down barriers.

Light meal/refreshments served.

Note: "African Americans and Labor" is 2025 theme designated by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASAALH), a group founded by Carter G. Woodson, the father of Black History Month.

Panelists

Darlene Flynn was appointed to be the first Director of the Department of Race and Equity for the City of Oakland in October of 2016. She came to this position with over a decade of experience as one of the original architects of the nationally recognized City of Seattle Race and Social Justice Initiative model.

Danielle Mahones is a skilled facilitator and trainer and has 20 years of experience in social justice movement work. For nine years she served as the executive director of the Center for Third World Organizing (CTWO), a racial justice organization dedicated to building a social justice movement led by people of color.

Saabir Lockett is the Deputy Director of Civic Engagement & Faith-Rooted Organizing. He is a Mayor appointed Commissioner for the city of Oakland, a board member of Urban Equity, a certified mentor/ trainer for the re-entry population with Pathways 2 Peace, and a community advocate and activist leading groundbreaking strategies to improve the conditions of underserved communities of color.

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