I stayed in AirBnBs for about 2.5 years throughout the 146 micro-communities in Oakland to try to meet people and see what they really wanted from government. I thought if I took a Business Analysis approach, came up with solutions under community leadership, I could take these ideas and technologies back to City of Oakland leaders to advocate for them building services that would finally help Oaklanders.
I did a data pilot focused on locating homes at higher risk for lead paint poisoning and dropping various data layers on Google Maps in order for community members to know which houses should be tested and how to get that done, along with testing their kids for lead poisoning.
After I did this pilot in the Melrose Community of Deep East Oakland, and got to know neighbors, they suggested I move there and be their new Community Council Chair when a long-time leader retired. I was shocked and honored, so said if I could find a place to live I would do it.
This is when I started a large series of community maps for Oakland to use during monthly meetings where neighbors came together to take about things to fix and announce what was going around the neighborhood. I served until the end of 2020 just before I had ankle surgery.