East Oakland Senior Center (EOSC)

It was the early 1970’s, when six senior citizens met for the purpose of organizing a senior service organization. The primary purpose for organizing this effort was to provide various quality life sustaining activities, recreation, and social fellowship. The members were W.E. Willis, Ray Mills, Amos N. White, Dan Van Dyke, Timothy Gardens and Dorothy A. Williams. In the ensuing years, Carl Smith, Sadie Carter-Smith and Mary Lou Oliver joined the six charter members along with others to further the cause with the goal to ultimately establish a senior center. On April 20, 1972, the dream of one woman, Dorothy A. Williams, morphed into the formation of The East Oakland Senior Citizens; Incorporated, referred to as “INC.” a premier nonprofit corporation mutual benefit senior advocacy group.

During the early 1970’s the group met frequently in homes throughout East Oakland including the old Brookfield Library. Their plans and activities included the recruitment of seniors to plan and engage in social fellowship events, volunteering their services to the East Oakland Community at large and utilizing retirees’ work skills to offset their activity program costs. A successful collaborative program with the Oakland Unified School District (O.U.S.D.) began with Grandparents Are Involved Now (G.A.I.N) which was incorporated on April 13, 1977, as a Domestic Nonprofit Jurisdiction with Dorothy A. Williams as the registered agent name and 9710 Coral RD, Oakland, CA 94603, as the registered agent address. The establishment of this entity thereby allowed seniors to volunteer at local elementary schools and render a living history program, with eyewitness accounts of historical events, songs, poems and special anecdotes. Senior musicians played historical background music for the students. Seniors also assisted with tutorial instruction in the classroom.

The “INC.” membership decided they needed an operational facility of their own and began looking for a site. A proposal was submitted to the Alameda County Department on Aging to seek funding to acquire the vacant property at the corner of Edes Avenue and 98th Avenue. Unfortunately, the initial attempt proved futile because the site was too small and it met with official governmental objections. In 1986, East Oakland Senior Citizens, Inc. was awarded $180,000 from the State Senior Center Bond Act Fund. The grant was obtained via the efforts of Dorothy A. Williams and Councilman Wilson Riles, Jr. “INC.” was also awarded a $150,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) provided from the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to plan and construct the development of senior centers throughout the City of Oakland. The building plans of the East Oakland Senior Center/Brookfield Library were designed by George Matsumato, Project Architect. Mr. Matsumato and his staff collaborated with the building committee and other members of INC. in designing the details of the proposed structure which would become the East Oakland Senior Center.

In 1989, at the suggestion of Mr. Wiley Williams, a joint venture proposal for construction of a senior center and library at the Brookfield recreation center was proposed in writing to the Oakland City Council. Upon completion of the new construction the property would be administered, maintained and owned by the City of Oakland. All interested parties were in agreement and a joint venture was formed between Oakland Parks and Recreation Director Herbye White and the East Oakland Senior Citizens, Incorporated.

To “INC’s” credit it is still an operationally active Non-Profit entity with East Oakland Senior Center member Ms. Ruscius Wilson serving as Chief Executive Officer. On April 27, 1991, a groundbreaking ceremony was held. The construction of the building (including the Brookfield Library) was completed in the fall of 1992. The Library was formally opened and dedicated on October 3, 1992. The East Oakland Senior Center's opening and dedication was delayed because the Department on Aging had to recruit and interview eligible seniors to serve as the twenty-one (21) members of EOSC’s Advisory Council. The center was officially opened and dedicated in March 1993, as a City of Oakland owned and operated facility.

It is with great enthusiasm that the East Oakland Senior Center continues serving its seniors, constituents and the East Oakland Community at large with the highest commitment to excellence.