What is the East Bay Linked Learning Hub of Excellence?

The Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with school districts, community colleges, and industry employers from Contra Costa to Hayward, is actively addressing the need to align educational opportunities with the workforce needs of industry in the region.

A prime example of the Chamber’s work is the recently launched East Bay Linked Learned Hub of Excellence, a multi-year initiative made possible with the support of James Irvine Foundation. Part of the broader effort underway in California known as “Linked Learning,” the initiative integrates academics with career-based learning and real-world workplace experiences. The Chamber’s role in the program is to serve as the central anchor organization that connects education, industry, and government partners to further develop work-based learning in the region.

As the program’s lead and anchor intermediary in the East Bay, the Chamber is responsible for developing and coordinating regional strategy to create and strengthen career pathways. The overall goal of the Chamber’s effort is to create more and better career opportunities for our region’s young people.

What is a Career Pathway?

A well-developed career pathway is a strong partnership with education, industry, and government partners that systematically builds awareness of, interest in, and skills for high-demand jobs. By way of example, a career pathway may initially begin with a workplace tour or career fair to build awareness of the range of available careers. It might then include a job shadow to allow individuals to further explore career opportunities. From there, the next step in a career pathway might be a paid internship to allow students to further develop their skills. Finally, a career pathway might include a paid job featuring robust on-the-job training to allow students to develop a mastery of job skills.

Career pathways can be developed for a range of industries based on industry needs. The East Bay Linked Learning Hub of Excellence is in the process of developing career pathways for the following sectors: computer science, advanced manufacturing, health care, cyber security, and transportation and logistics.

Get Involved: Education and Industry Partnerships

The Chamber’s has hired two East Bay Linked Learning Hub of Excellence staff members that may be contacted for more information about education and industry partnerships. Courtney Riley (criley@oaklandchamber.com) serves as the Linked Learning Program manager, with a focus on working with and developing new education partners to scale Linked Learning practices. Mark Butler (mbutler@oaklandchamber.com) is the Hub’s Industry Engagement Director and works with regional industry employers to connect them with work-based learning opportunities.  

March 18, 2016: Economic Development Summit - "Choosing Oakland"

Register here! Download sponsorship information here.

2016 Economic Summit "Choosing Oakland" Sponsorship Opportunities

Building on the success of last year’s exploration of what attracts new businesses to Oakland, the Chamber’s 2016 Economic Summit will take a closer look at Oakland’s rapidly changing and expanding marketplace. 

Sponsorship opportunities are available at the following levels: 

Title Sponsor – $10,000  

Benefits: 

 15 reserved premium seating with prominent Oakland Elected Leadership 
 Opportunity to introduce Mayor at opening remarks  
 Recognition in Kaiser Center and all presentation screens 
 Placement of collateral materials given to all attendees at conference 
 Marketing Table during event breakfast/registration 
 Website recognition on Oakland Chamber website  
 Promotion on Oakland Chamber social media channels  
 Logo in March & April Oakland Business Review 
 Logo recognition in Event Program 

Panel Sponsor $7,500  

Benefits: 

 10 reserved premium seats in first three rows  
 Opportunity to introduce panelists and moderator 
 Recognition in Kaiser Center/Logo on presentation screens 
 Placement of collateral materials given to all attendees 
 Marketing Table during event breakfast/registration 
 Website recognition on Oakland Chamber website 
 Promotion on Oakland Chamber social media channels  
 Logo in March & April Oakland Business Review 
 Logo recognition in Event Program 

Key Sponsor $5,000 

Benefits:  

 7 reserved premium seats in first five rows  
 Opportunity to introduce speaker  
 Recognition in Kaiser Center/Logo on presentation screens 
 Placement of collateral materials given to all attendees 
 Marketing Table during event breakfast/registration 
 Website recognition on Oakland Chamber website 
 Promotion on Oakland Chamber social media channels  
 Logo in March & April Oakland Business Review 
 Logo recognition in Event Program 

Highlight Sponsor $2,500

Benefits:  

 7 reserved premium seats in first five rows  
 Recognition in Kaiser Center/Logo on presentation screens 
 Website recognition on Oakland Chamber website 
 Promotion on Oakland Chamber social media channels  
 Logo in March & April Oakland Business Review 
 Logo recognition in Event Program 

Program Champion: $1,500  

Benefits: 

 5 tickets  
 Recognition of Logo on presentation screens 
 Website recognition on Oakland Chamber website 
 Promotion on Oakland Chamber social media channels  
 Logo recognition in Event Program 

Individual Event Ticket $85

Benefits: 

 Admission to event 
 Exclusive networking and business exposure opportunities 

Click here to download a sponsorship packet. 

Individual event tickets can be purchased here.

February 10, 2016: Economic Development Forum

Register here: 
http://business.oaklandchamber.com/events/details/economic-development-forum-the-port-of-oakland-6722

SAVE THE DATE! March 18, 2016: Economic Development Summit ‪#‎TheOaklandAdvantage‬

Director of Economic Development - Apply by Feb. 15, 2016

The Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce is seeking an individual experienced in business development to provide liaison, marketing, and economic development expertise to fulfill the mission and guide the activities of the Chamber. This is a senior staff position with the largest Chamber of Commerce in the East Bay.

The employee will act as first point of contact for chamber members, city staff and other stakeholders regarding economic development information, data, assistance, and expertise. The employee will play an instrumental role in creating a smoothly functioning office by providing support, supervision, and leadership to multiple department staff, acting as a liaison to Chamber committees, and creating a welcoming environment for Chamber members.

Other duties include:

• Facilitate partnerships with the City of Oakland, Port of Oakland and other partners to leverage resources; act as liaison to other organizations and service providers to achieve mutual goals
• Convene and provide staff support to the Chamber Economic Development Leadership Team, and three standing committees
• Assist managing the Chamber’s “Hub” workforce development initiative, involving technical and coordination support.
• Organize and curate the Chamber’s monthly economic development programming and annual economic development summit
• Participate as a member of the Chamber team in public and economic policy issues, event production, membership, operations assistance and other issues and projects as relevant
• Assist managing subcontractor relationships.

Required Abilities

The ideal candidate will be comfortable balancing complex, deadline-driven projects with essential daily tasks, employing careful priority identification and strong decision making skills. They should be highly organized and detail-oriented, with advanced written and verbal communication skills and a proven ability to communicate to members and the public the importance of the Chamber’s objectives in economic development. The candidate should enjoy regular interactions with a wide range of people, consistently providing excellent customer service, and demonstrating the ability to work collaboratively and implement results with many diverse stakeholders. 

Preferred skills include: experience providing management and support to multiple staffers, database management, data collection and analysis skills, an understanding of local resources including: local economic development programs and organizations, business attraction and retention strategies, and regional/national best practices. Five or more years of professional experience directly related to economics, business, marketing, business development, city planning, public policy, or a related field.

Compensation

Salary is commensurate with experience and education. The Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce offers a range of health, dental, vision, and retirement benefits.

To Apply

Submit a cover letter and resume including current salary.

Please answer the following supplemental questions:

• Provide a description of two successful economic/business development initiatives in which you have lead or had a significant role in planning. Describe the initiative, goals, and your role and responsibilities.
• Describe the role for economic development that a Chamber of Commerce can effectively achieve. Detail your vision in the context of job creation, business attraction, and retention.

Submit application materials to Barbara Leslie President and CEO, Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce via email to: lana@oaklandchamber.com by 5pm on 2/15/2016.

Oakland launches ‘Promise’ initiative to triple number of college graduates

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and Oakland Unified School District Superintendent Antwan Wilson have launched the Oakland Promise. Over the next decade this cradle-to-career effort will triple the number of low-income Oakland public school graduates who complete a post-secondary education.

“This is the single most transformative thing we can do for Oakland and its young people,” said Mayor Schaaf. “In a district where 71 percent of students are low-income, ensuring that more of our kids earn a college degree has the potential to interrupt generational poverty. Today, we’re raising the bar for this entire community by setting out a clear expectation for our children’s futures and giving them the tools and the support to exceed those expectations.”

Within a decade the Oakland Promise will:

• Open 55,000 college savings accounts for Oakland children
• Invest $100 million in college scholarships
• Serve nearly 200,000 students and families across Oakland
• Triple the number of college graduates from Oakland

“The partnerships and resources coming together through the Oakland Promise will help us ensure that every student graduates prepared for success in college, career, and community,” said Superintendent Wilson.

Mayor Schaaf and Superintendent Wilson were joined at Oakland High School for the launch by Oakland Promise lead partners from the City of Oakland, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), East Bay College Fund and the Oakland Public Education Fund. California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom and OUSD graduate and current Oakland teacher Michael Jefferson delivered keynote remarks, speaking to the importance of the broad-based Oakland effort.

“For too many, economic growth has become a spectator sport and we know that income inequality is synonymous with barriers to educational opportunity,” said Lt. Governor Newsom. “The Oakland Promise offers a model for the rest of the state, weaving together the best practices to tackle generational poverty in a way never done before.”

The Chamber would like to thank its members who gave generously to Oakland Promise: Kaiser Permanente, PG&E, The Clorox Company, Golden State Warriors, AT&T, Comcast, Wells Fargo, Donahue Fitzgerald, East Bay Community Fund, EMC Research, Madison Park Financial, and Visit Oakland.

If you would like to donate to Oakland Promise, please visit www.theoaklandpromise.org.