Our mission is to eliminate persistent poverty by working with partners to transform low-income neighborhoods into vibrant, healthy communities

Oakland is one of ten designated cities to represent the National Emerald Cities Collaborative

Emerald Cities Collaborative is a network of vested stakeholders interested in building a Green Economy locally. The collaborative includes labor groups, community organizations, social justice activists, development intermediaries, research and technical assistance providers, socially responsible businesses, and elected officials committed to greening our metropolitan centers in the most equitable way possible.

Oakland Emerald Cities Collaborative (OECC), is committed to establishing Oakland as a continuing leader in the growing movement to combat climate change and ensure that the green economy comes in the form of new opportunities for Oakland's residents and businesses. We will:

• Green Our Cities: Conduct comprehensive and deep building retrofits to significantly reduce the city’s carbon footprint and increase energy efficiency.
• Build Our Communities: Generate good jobs and lifetime careers, create new enterprises, promote social and economic equity, and raise living standards.
• Strengthen Our Democracy: Give greater voice to community and labor united and increase access to consequential decision-making about the urban future

Our local operating principles guide our work together and will focus us on achieving our energy, employment and civic engagement goals.

We are building a strong and diverse collaborative, anchored in the support from MayorJean Quan, city staff and the Alameda County Building and Construction Trades Council and a broad array of community organizations and business representatives.

Our first priority is to outreach to local governmental agencies and embed Emerald Cities' strategies and practices into currently funded public projects with existing project labor agreements (PLAs) or where opportunities exist for new PLAs increase job opportunities while ensuring career pathways for communities.